OUR JOURNEY
As a result of the traumatic experience that Dr. Ruby Abbasi suffered when her youngest son Bilal fell victim to post Viral Encephalitis Cerebral Palsy, as a toddler at the age of 2.5 years, a humble beginning of a Treatment Centre from a two roomed rented premises in PECHS Karachi in 1985 was made after she returned from London UK in 1984, being trained in BOBATH Techniques. Bilal remained wheel chair bound till the end of his life (November 29th 2005).
The non-profit making NGO was later formed by her in 1989 along with her husband (Late) Dr. Major (retd) Anwer Ahmed, other affected Parents, Doctors, Physical Therapists and eminent Social Workers. (Late Mrs Aban Jamall being one of them).
Dr. Ruby Abbasi was awarded Tamgha e Imtiaz from Government of Pakistan in the year 2000 for converting her personal tragedy into solace for many other Parents of Differently Able C.P. Children.
Since the year 2000, AURA for Cerebral Palsy is housed in a custom built, state of Art building in Gulistan e Jauhar Karachi. AURA has widened its spectrum of services, reaching out to a larger number of affected children and young adults, through its Fleet of 10 vans operating in all the areas of Karachi.
Our journey and perseverance of over two decades, along with the generosity of our donors, has enabled us to make a huge difference to the lives of these differently abled and underprivileged children.
Life history of (late) Mrs. Aban Jamall Ex-Chairperson
Mrs. Aban Jamall was born to Cyrus and Mehra Minwala on 3rd July 1937. She was one of six children. As a young person she already knew that her role was to be one of service and love. She was studying in England to become a physio-therapist, when at the age of twenty-one she married Aziz Jamall. Together they raised their five children.
Aban’s great passion in life was the Al-Umeed Rehabilitation Association that runs a center for children with cerebral palsy. She co-founded the center with Dr. Ruby Abbasi. While Aban could be labeled a social worker, she was much more than that. In an official capacity she worked to introduce the Special Olympics in Pakistan, well before it became a fashionable cause to support. She was on the board of multiple charitable institutions and supported many others including SIUT and the Kidney Centre.Later in her life she worked tirelessly to create the first Speech and Language therapy center in Pakistan which is part of the Ziauddin Hospital.
However, those are not the things she will be remembered for. She actually devoted her day to day life towards helping people, some whom she barely new.Even as her health deteriorated every Sunday was reserved for visiting friends, relatives and her many “adopted” sons and daughters. In fact anyone who needed encouragement, advice or just a smile.
Aban Jamall was a great soul who lived life on her own terms. She did a multitude of things to help many people. Nobody heard of or knew about any of these many kindnesses. It is for this and so much more that people remember her and are grateful to God for bringing Aban into their lives, until she left for her eternal abode on 17th July 2016.
