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"Marufa, my sister, was only 18 years old when she collapsed due to a heart infection. There were no hospitals in my village, Punri, so I carried her to my taxi and started driving. But the closest hospital was in Kolkata, 40km away. I couldn't get there in time. I couldn't save her. My Marufa died right in front of me. That day, I thought to myself that nothing like this should ever happen again to anybody in Punri. So I decided to build a hospital." — Md. Sohidul Laskar
Md. Sohidul Laskar drives his taxi from 7am to 9pm every day. With the money he has earned over the years, contributions from thousands of passengers, and even the sale of his wife’s jewellery, he has invested close to ₹50 lakhs into his dream. But there's still a long way to go yet.
"I remember asking my wife, all those years ago, if she would let me sell her jewellery to buy a plot, so I could build a hospital. It took a lot of convincing, but she put her faith in me, saying she knew I would be successful. Now, here we are."
It took more than a decade, and relentless effort, but Sohidul made his dream come true in 2018, inaugurating Marufa Smrity Welfare Foundation hospital, named after his late sister.
People from close to a 100 villages are now dependent upon Sohidul's hospital, where he provides free medicines to the poor. He even drives patients himself, in the absence of an ambulance. So far, he has helped over 8000 people. It brings him great joy, and satisfaction, when someone looks to him and thanks him for his work. He feels at peace, when they bless him. But Sohidul is not content, still.
"My work is not complete. I want to keep serving people. Right now, I organise medical camps inviting doctors across a range of disciplines such as general medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedic and opthalmology. But I want to do more. A lot of the construction of the hospital is still pending. We also need an ambulance, an x-ray machine, more beds, and so much more. I try my best, but I am only one man, driving one taxi. I need your help."
Sohidul needs at least another 32 lakhs INR to turn Marufa Smrity Welfare Foundation into a full functioning hospital.
You can contribute to his cause by clicking here.
