Since 1995 our partners in Gilgit, Pakistan have worked non stop to provide the people of this vast area with health and medical care. Under their supervision, seven health centres throughout the region of Baltistan have sprung up and each provided health assistance to 800-1000 patients every month.

The surrounding areas of the Baltistan region are simply beautiful and there is no better way to see what the land has to offer than driving along the 810 mile Karakoram Highway. The road itself connects China and Pakistan through the mountain ranges, Karakoram. The bridge is built at  an altitude of over 15,000 ft and it is often considered the ninth wonder of the world for this very reason. The road and the srrounding 810 miles of beauty is a popular tourist attraction, providing people with unforgettable scenes of wildlife and blissful views.

However, there is another side to having such a road.

In winter time, it  stops being a tourist attraction as the road turns into a death trap to anyone who dares to cross it during this time. From November to April each year the road must close due to the sheet of ice and snow that blankets the area, making it almost unrecognisable. Landslides from the surrounding mountain ranges are more and more common and would stop traffic for several bone chilling hours were it to fall into motorists paths. Locals must prepare in advance for this barrage of bad weather, as for the majority this road is the only way in and out of their villages and towns. Isolation is the only option, preparation is the only solution. Towns and villages from September onwards will be doing all they can to stock pile  food, fuel, water and maintenance items within the short time they have. This includes our ground team and their medical centres.

'An isolated town' requires adequate provisions to survive.  Food is an obvious essential, warmth of some kind to keep the relentless  bitterness of the season at bay and of course, medication. Our partners in this part of the world are well practised in preparing the people for the difficult winter ahead. They give out advice and leaflets on what to do in an emergency and where to go for help. They also try to stock as much medication and equipment as they can for their patients and anyone who happens to fall ill or injure themselves during this violent 'White Out'. Other services provided by the health centres also include, antenatal classes, post natal classes and other pregnancy procedures including minor treatments. For most the health centres are a blessing and a lifeline and at Beta Charitable Trust we celebrate their efforts in  bringing decent health care  and help to  so many cut off from the rest of the world.

This year the health centres approached Beta Charitable Trust for help. They needed medicine and equipment to see them through the incredible six month wait before their area would thaw out once again. More than seven thousand people live in the vicinity of each centre and with no proper transport to take them to hospitals during the white out the health centres are all these people have. Stethoscopes, IV stands, patients beds, blood pressure apparatus and more than enough medication for each centre are some of the things they requested. In total we managed to raise and send over £8,000 in support of this incredible feat performed by doctors and nurses throughout winter’s icy grasp. You too can support projects such as this; simply click this link to visit our donate page.