About Us:
Thank you for your interest in the Dow Patient Care Association (DPCA). DPCA is a non-profit student-volunteer organization registered officially with the Sindh Welfare Office and affiliated with Dow International Medical College (DIMC). Our primary mission is to provide the less fortunate patients at Dow University Hospital, Ojha Campus, with financial assistance to receive diagnostic tests and life-saving procedures. DPCA also aims to raise awareness regarding public health issues within our community. The organization received its NGO certification on August 31, 2018, under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance of 1961 by the General Social Welfare Department of the Government of Sindh.
Since August 31, 2018, DPCA has planned and executed many events for fundraising as well as spreading public health knowledge. Community outreach and fundraising events include those such as the Sirat-ul-Jannah trip in which students and volunteers were invited to play with the children of this orphanage. Events like these foster kindness within our volunteers who will grow to become responsible, compassionate physicians upon graduation.
Past Activities:
Orphanage Trip
DPCA organized a trip to the Sirat-ul-Jannah Orphanage. Many activities and games were planned, such as tug-of-war, face paint, and tag. We also shared a meal with the children and the faculty. Overall, it was a very wholesome and insightful experience. Prior to the trip, DPCA collected clothes, toys, and canned foods for the facility. The children played excitedly with the visiting volunteers. For this initiative, DPCA team members advertised the event, coordinated with orphanage staff, and organized transportation. The everlasting impacts of this type of event resonates within our community and fuels the compassion our volunteer students have for humanity as they practice medicine and continue dedicating their time to financing procedures for patients of all ages.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
DPCA held bake sales for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Volunteers baked many goods and organized a table in the DIMC cafeteria. The funds collected from the bake sales directly went towards helping DPCA patients. Through these bake sales, DPCA was also able to spread awareness regarding an important health issue. Additionally, DPCA has gone to great lengths to educate the community regarding the dangers and misconceptions surrounding this disease. Members organized alongside staff to contribute to marches and presentations with a large audience as facilitated by the generous DIMC administration.
Charity Fun Festival
The Fun Festival is an event which was held on Ojha Campus for which permission was graciously granted by the DIMC administration. Throughout this event, DPCA staff and volunteers have a duty to ensure that honorable conduct is taking place. The purpose of this event was to connect with colleagues recreationally, establish long-lasting friendships, and to recruit more volunteers. These goals are met while simultaneously raising funds through ticket sales. The organization was able to raise PKR 32010 which will be instrumental in the care of patients. In the process, students enjoyed fun and safe events, games, and snacks.
Kicks for Kindness
DPCA organized a football game which unified all the batches of DIMC. There were sponsored food stalls and live entertainment. Volunteers and ordinary students alike competed in matches against teams in healthy competition. Good sportsmanship was apparent at every corner as cheers roared through the venue. This event was a successful effort to encourage physical activity to achieve and maintain personal fitness. Attendees contributed donations and purchased slots for matchups. The proceeds contributed to the patient welfare fund which went on to save many lives.
Stress and Anxiety Workshop
In line with World Mental Health Day, DPCA collaborated with Dr. Anil Wadhwani for his workshop on Stress and Anxiety Management. It was held at the Dr. AQ Khan Institute of Behavioral Sciences on the 16th of October 2021 from 1:30 PM to 2:20 PM. The purpose of this workshop was to have an informal discussion about the stressors in medical students' day-to-day lives which may lead to anxiety and how to manage it all.
DIMC Olympics Collaboration
This event was hosted by the newly ratified Dow International Medical College Sport’s Society (DSS) in collaboration with DPCA which was granted the opportunity by DSS during this event to set up food stands during the event to cater to event-goers and athletes starting October 25th, 2021. Therefore, this is an event which highlights the importance of physical activity and social wellness, employed in such a way by which to simultaneously raise patient welfare funds.
Eid Gift Drive
DPCA organized an Eid Gift Drive in which a fundraiser was held to collect money for Eid gifts in the end of Ramzan. The gifts were then taken to the Pediatrics Ward of Dow Hospital and distributed to the children in order to lift their spirits. Many children admitted to this hospital come from working class and poverty-stricken families who may not have the funds to purchase new toys for their children. This initiative brought joy to 48 children who were otherwise struggling with various illnesses for which they were admitted to the ward.
Heat Stroke Awareness Day
In order to combat the deadly heat waves of the summer of 2022, DPCA secured 1,000 water bottles and set up tables outside the OPD which were manned by student volunteers who distributed these bottles alongside an informational flyer with instructions on how to prevent heat stroke to the patients on Ojha Campus. This initiative received media coverage and was graced by the honorable principal and vice-principal of DIMC.