Wednesday 11 July 2012

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - To Whom it may Concern

God created human beings for each other, he gave some power so that they could help others with none, he bestowed health upon some so that they can help those with poor health, to some he blessed with every blessing that there is so that they could share it with those who were not that lucky.

Being a human we have a responsibility towards every human who is deprived, doing is what makes us human.

People who took away the smiles from the faces of the victims of set-on-fire and Acid Attacks are another breed, but what have we done to answer the calls of these distressed souls?

We at Depilex Smileagain Foundation are committed towards bringing back their smiles and doing everything we can to give them their life back. You can either choose to ignore us or help us, decide how good a human you want to be, HURRY

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Thursday 5 July 2012

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - Profile of a Volunteer at Depilex SmileAgain Foundation


My name is Amrit Ahmed. I have just finished my O’level studies. I always wanted to do something that made myself and others happy. I had my three months summer vacations so therefore, I looked at it as an opportunity to accomplish my goal and started to look for a way to keep myself happy whilst doing some social work.
One day I was just randomly searching on internet about some of the foundations working for orphans, women rights e.t.c. As my search engine continued I suddenly came across Smileagain foundation. Smileagain works for the acid and kerosene burn victims and is run by Mussarat Misbah. While I was reading the web page I came across the objective of this foundation.
Immediately on 16 of June I decided to meet Mussarat Misbah. Mussarat Misbah after seeing my passion and considering my enthusiasm immediately offered me to work with her foundation as a volunteer. It was that very day when I met Mamoona an acid victim. Due to my friendly nature Maimoona immediately became my really good friend. When I told her that I am going to voluntarily work with Smileagain she hugged me and gave me a big smile and said that she is really happy to see someone working for them too. She got really excited when she came to know that I am going to visit her daily while she is in hospital and will bring her lunch too.
The smile that I saw on Mamoona’s face made me proud of myself that I am doing something productive. From that day onwards I decided that I would always be a friend of this foundation. Every day I meet many burn victims who come to this foundation with a new hope, trust and expect to enjoy a new life.
I feel really proud working here because the atmosphere provided by Mussarat Misbah is really cherishing. It feels like as if I belong here. Hence, I will recommend my all dear friends who are sitting idle in their homes  in front of computer or just hanging around achieving nothing, should not waste their time and come to Smileagain and work with them because smiles are meant to be shared and we should make sure that we share a smile too.


Amrit Ahmed

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - BEING HUMAN


The feeling of self-satisfaction that comes when one sees joy in the eyes of one whose hunger has been appeased, whose pain has been lessened and whose life has been recovered is indeed heavenly.

The service rendered by an individual or an institution to improve the social conditions of society is called ‘social service’. This service is rendered on humanitarian considerations and without any motive of profit. Only those people to whom the interests of society are more important than their personal interests come forward to render social service. Today there is an appropriate definition to it as a trait found in some people, whereas it should have been a universal character trait of any Human Being.

If one seeks to help, several ways come to mind as there are many worthy people who deserve help from the more fortunate ones. Acid Attacks and Burn victims are amongst the list of people who need all sort of help from anyone who is willing to invest time, money or hard work.

Poor souls which are victim of Set-on-fire and Acid attacks suffer from many problems which are physical, psychological and social. They require a lot of treatments at various levels along with Psychological and Psychiatric assistance to facilitate social reintegration of the survivors.

You know how stress super-charges you, causing stomach distress, aches and pains, or sending your heart rate soaring. In the same way, social support has a complex effect on well-being—but it is calming and positive. Social support may change your assessment of the stressful event or may prevent you from engaging in damaging behavioral or physiological responses.

Volunteering in organizations which work for a humanitarian causes is the best form of charity one can give as a human. It is sad to see how many able people do not give heed to such services; they do not realize how important it is for them to be of service to humanity to be able to classify themselves as being HUMAN.

Monday 2 July 2012

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - Burn and Acid Attack victims – Pains are more than skin deep



Burn injuries are devastating, sudden and unpredictable forms of trauma which affect the victim both physically and psychologically[1]. The bio psychosocial impact on individual hospitalized for severe burn wounds begins at the moment of injury and extends through out the person’s life[2] In last decades, the increase in survival rate following burn injury has prompted an increased focus on problems of rehabilitation, psychosocial adjustment and psychosocial concomitants[3].

The psychological aspects of burn injury have been researched in different parts of world producing different outcomes[4]. Psychological impairment has found to be present in 45.5% and 40% at baseline and follow up assessments respectively. The extent of burn has been found to be associated with psychological impairment.
The prevalence of mild to moderate symptoms of Depression are present in 23% to 26%[5] while major depression in 4% to 10%[6]. Lower levels of Anxiety are present in 67.14% whereas moderate to severe Anxiety is reported by 24.29% and 8.57% of patients respectively.

A major component of suffering from burn injury is severe pain[7]. It has been recognized that Anxiety can worsen the acute pain. Moreover, both Depression and Anxiety are strong prospective predictors of greater pain, more fatigue and physical dysfunction[8].

Anxiety is common in burn patients; therefore, this problem should be addressed right from start of treatment since acute anxiety can aggravate the severe pain.  Patients who are depressed require therapy which should be started in hospital and be continued till discharge and full rehabilitation. Flame was most common cause of burn injury.



[1]Loncar Z, Bras M, Mickovic V. The relationships between burn
pain, anxiety and depression. Coll Antropol

[2] Menzies V. Depression and burn wounds. Arch  Psychiatr Nurs

[3] Madianos MG, Papaghelis M, Ioannovich J, Dafni R. Psychiatric
Disorders in Burn Patients: A Follow-Up Study. Psychother
Psychosom

[4] Tedstone JE,  Tarrier N.  An investigation of the prevalence of
psychological morbidity in burn-injured patients. Burns

[5] Thomas BD, Bresnick GM, Magyar-Russell G, Lawrence JW,
McCann UD, Fauerbach JA. Symptoms of depression predict
change in physical health after burn injury. Burns

[6] Tsirigotou S. Acute and Chronic Pain resulting From Burn
Injuries. Ann Mediterr Burns Club

[7] Edwards RR, Smith MT, Klick B, Magyar-Russell G,
Hythornthwaite JA, Holavanhalli R, et al. Symptoms of depression
and anxiety as unique predictors of pain related out comes
following burn injury

Sunday 1 July 2012

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - Rising Atrocities – Acid Attack and Set-on-fire cases on the rise



Gender based domestic violence is one of the harsh realities in the third world. Every day the media reports cases of atrocities that are faced by helpless victims. Few of these are ever brought to justice due to communal pressures and loop holes in the legal system. Acid and kerosene oil burning is a gender specific crime. Young girls and women are the common victims of this crime. Although the mortality rate is low the survival is considered by victims to be a fate worse than death. The crime has long term repercussions comprising physical disfiguration and often immobility and psychological complications.

According to an independent survey carried out by Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) there were 242 cases of burnt victims in Pakistan in 2011. 153 of these cases were a result of intentional violence whereas 89 were accidental cases. The number of victims of Acid Attacks and Set-on-Fire has increased by 31% and 47% respectively since 2010, which is very alarming in these modern times where there are tens of NGOs looking after Human and Women Rights.

These numbers are bound to be more than mentioned because only a few have the courage to report such issues and most cases go unreported. Over 450 victims have been registered in DSF, an NGO which has been working on this issue since years. Thank God such Foundations exist because the legal system and the Government has not done much to reduce such cases of dreadful violence let alone helping the victims.