Cabbie offers hospital built in memory of his sister to state govt

SOUMITRA NANDI | MP | 9 April 2020 | Kolkata: A taxi driver who had built a 55-bed hospital, in memory of his sister, at Baruipur in South 24-Parganas some years back has now offered it to the state government to develop the hospital into a quarantine centre for COVID -19 patients.

Md Saidul Laskar had set up the hospital in memory of his sister and had christened it as 'Marufa Memorial Hospital' at Punri village in Baruipur. The local BDO along with five other officials surveyed the hospital as part of the district administration's effort of preparing a database of hospitals where isolation or quarantine facilities can be developed.

"I recently went to the BDO and donated Rs 5,000 to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for COVID-19. I proposed to him to dedicate my hospital for the cause of the COVID 19 patients. They came and surveyed the hospital on Wednesday. They have informed me that they will send the proposal to the state Health department," said Saidul. The hospital has around 15 staff and basic facilities are available there.

"The top floor is not yet ready and we need to do some work there. If the approval comes we will proceed," a senior district administrative official said.

Saidul and his wife Shamima has been fighting against all odds for the last twelve years to provide treatment to around 100 villages in and around Punri. Saidul has sold all his three taxis and now drives another person's cab while Shamima has given all her ornaments for the hospital. "We want to work for the people. Now when the entire country is fighting a larger battle if my little effort comes to their help it will be my biggest satisfaction," Laskar said. Saidul's only sister Marufa Khatoon died allegedly without any treatment. She died of chest infection in 2004. I tried in all government hospital but failed to get a berth and she died without any treatment," Saidul said.

He didn't feel depressed and translated his grief of the death of his 17-year-old sister into a mission – a conviction to build a hospital for the poor and the needy. "I wanted to make a hospital which will be within the range of the common people so that they don't have to run from pillar to post in pursuit of treatment," he said.

(Courtesy, source and link- Millenium Post- http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/cabbie-offers-hospital-built-in-memory-of-his-sister-to-state-govt-407061 )