Khalida Begum, a rural, middle-aged Pakistani woman, walked slowly toward the podium, aware of hundreds of people looking at her. She had agreed to journey to the capital Islamabad to deliver remarks about improvements in the health system in the remote part of Mandra in the Eastern part of Pakistan at a public function marking a new donation of ambulances to connect rural folk to local hospitals.

Now, however, she was more than a little nervous.

"I belong to the village of Bangali Gujjar," she said, eyes focused on her folded piece of paper and darting from right to left as she read the handwritten Urdu sentences. "I would like to share my experience of the services provided at the rural health center in Mandra that is supported by the USAID."

"First, let me say the biggest change at the health center is that services are provided 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, and an ambulance is always available. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of patients who come to the center, and a great number of lives that are saved by through timely transport of patients in need of emergency transport to the nearest hospital."

"One of those patients was my son, Hasnat Ulfat, who was seventeen at the time of his accident. On November 7, 2008 - a day I will never forget - he and his friend were foolishly playing around with a loaded gun, and by mistake, he was hit with a bullet. Hasnat was in very critical condition when we took him to the Mandra health center. I thought I was going to lose him."

"But due to the great professional skills of Dr. Khalil, the head of the center, working in a refurbished, fully equipped emergency department, and the new ambulance with a trained driver and paramedic waiting outside, we were able to reach Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi about thirty kilometers away in time to save Hasnat's life."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank USAID for the excellent health services that were provided for us, without which we would have lost our beloved son. On behalf of everyone in Mandra, we sincerely appreciate the help that USAID has given our health department. This has given us huge respect for the organization. You have helped us immeasurably."