EUROPE/ITALY - International Association Amici di Raoul Follerau: death of Farhat Rahman, social activist and Referent for programme for community development and Community Base Rehabilitation in Pakistan

Tuesday, 3 May 2005

Rome (Fides Service) - Winner in 2004 of a civil gold medal Fatimah Jinna was one of the most important personalities for promoting respect for human rights in Pakistan
The AIFO referent for a programme for community development and rehabilitation on Community Base in Pakistan in Peshawar and directress of Rehabilitation Center for Physically Disabled which offered a service from which 50,000 disabled people in Pakistan benefited and will continue to benefit, Ms Farhat Rahman, died on Sunday 1 May 20
Farhat was a point of reference in Pakistan as a promoter of authentic social change and development in healthcare, social integration and assistance for disabled people, the emancipation of women and safeguarding health and social integration of women in rural areas. As a social activist she worked for 22 years in Community Basic Rehabilitation programmes (CBR) for the disabled. She was Master trainer at a National Resources Centre Peshawar and director of common based programmes. She set up a national network for people with a disability in partnership with 54 NGOs through which she helped to open and run 71 community based rehabilitation centres and 15 other new centres. She helped organise 51 basic healthcare formation seminars and prevention of disability in women in rural areas and city outskirts in North West Frontier Province and Punjab, training a total 45.000 women in rural areas. She wrote many books on disability and health. She helped women with a disability form ‘Power’ groups Promotion of Women Empowerment and Rehabilitation in 11 towns in Pakistan, thus helping social change, increasing awareness and development all over the country. (AP) (3/5/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:28; Parole:333)


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