MUZAFFARABAD: ICRC and AJK Health Department Extend Partnership for Disability Rehabilitation
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has renewed its commitment to supporting persons with disabilities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by signing a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the region’s Health Department. The agreement, which extends the ICRC’s assistance for another three years, was signed on Friday by Nicolas Lambert, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Pakistan, and AJK Health Secretary Brig. Irfan Ahmed. The signing took place in the presence of AJK Health Minister Nisar Ansar Abdali and senior officials from both sides.
The ICRC has played a pivotal role in aiding people with disabilities in AJK, particularly in the wake of the catastrophic 2005 earthquake, which claimed thousands of lives and left many injured or disabled. In response to the disaster, the ICRC set up a 100-bed tent hospital on the Muzaffarabad cricket ground to provide emergency medical care to survivors. The temporary facility, equipped with modern surgical and medical services, was transferred to the AJK Health Department in May 2006.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the ICRC and the AJK Health Department signed an agreement before the handover to construct the Muzaffarabad Physical Rehabilitation Centre (MPRC) within the premises of Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital, commonly known as CMH Muzaffarabad. The MPRC, inaugurated in July 2007 by then-Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz, was built at a cost of Rs135.15 million and has since become a vital resource for the rehabilitation of people with physical disabilities.
In December 2013, the MPRC was formally handed over to the AJK government as an autonomous institute. Dr. Ahmed Junaid, Director of the MPRC, shared that the facility has provided prosthetic limbs and physiotherapy services to over 43,000 individuals from AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, and neighboring regions of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The center offers a range of rehabilitation services, including upper and lower limb prosthetics, mobility aids such as crutches and wheelchairs, and user training programs.
The revised MoU will enable the ICRC to continue its support for the MPRC by supplying raw materials for assembling customized artificial limbs, particularly for residents in remote areas, including those near the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC). The agreement also includes outreach programs to far-flung communities, capacity-building initiatives for MPRC staff, and career development opportunities for persons with disabilities. In collaboration with TEVTA, the ICRC will promote social inclusion through technical training programs for individuals with disabilities.
During the signing ceremony, Health Minister Nisar Ansar Abdali emphasized the importance of empowering differently-abled individuals, stating that they are integral members of society who deserve to live dignified and fulfilling lives. “Providing the necessary facilities to ease their challenges is a top priority, and we will work closely with the ICRC to achieve this goal,” he said.
Brig. Irfan Ahmed, AJK Health Secretary, expressed gratitude to the ICRC for its continued support, acknowledging the organization’s crucial role in helping the Health Department and the MPRC achieve their rehabilitation objectives.
This partnership reinforces the AJK government’s commitment to the welfare of persons with disabilities, who are also key beneficiaries of the region’s Social Protection Welfare Programme.
