Adversity brings out the best in humans with conscience. Kashmir’s trying times saw many well meaning people come out to support the needy, Help Poor Trust is one such case. Ikhlaq Qadri reports.
After spending all his money on his daughter’s medicine suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, (SLE), a broke Muhammad Amin had lost hope to see her daughter alive. Six years back, Amin, a father of nine, including seven daughters was left with no money to treat his ailing daughter.
However, the shattered father was saved from complete despondency after he came in contact with the Help Poor Voluntary Trust (HPVT), which for the last six months have been giving him medicine for his daughter.
Established in 1998 by a group of traders of Sarai Bala and some doctors with an intention to help poor and needy the Trust has grown into full fledged institution. The trust has also helped a lot of injured during the last four months with ambulance services and medicine.
The leading role in organizing the trust was played by Farooq Ahmad, who currently serves as its president. During the first year of its inception, people associated with the trust used to visit hospitals and distribute fruits among patients and attendants. Later they started to distribute medicines among the needy.
“Most people were seen going from shop to shop and asking for medicines with prescription in their hands; to prevent begging, the idea of having an institution was envisioned, which took the shape HPVT,” said HPVT Admistrative Officer, Nazir Ahmad Baba, a retired deputy secretary with the government.
The Trust has 15 executive members and it makes stringent verification to prevent misuse of funds or help reaching those who could afford medicines on their own.
After the Trust volunteers find a case of genuine need, the person is asked to present ration card, prescription and other required documents prior to getting registration card of the Trust. The registration is valid for one year and after that case is evaluated again to see if he can manage the expenses himself, if not, the medicines are continued for another year.
The core members of the Trust meet every Friday and have interactions with patients who come to office and decisions to or not to support a patient is taken on the spot.
The registration of patients with the trust started in the year 1999. Right now there are around 800 patients registered with the trust whose all medical expenses are taken care of by the trust. The members of the trust visit hospitals every week. In two groups they visit different wards. While providing medicines they also make patients aware about the proper usage and dosage of drugs.
The trust has also the Subsidiary, Shehluth Pharmacy where apart from providing medicines free to the poor, drugs are sold at a discount. “The aim is to ease out sufferings of the ailing,” said one of the executive members.
During the last almost four months of civil unrest, the trust has also helped those injured. The two ambulances were put to use to carry injured to hospitals. The injured were provided life saving drugs immediately.
While ferrying injured during curfew, the ambulance staff allegedly were many times threatened by police and CRPF.
“Guns were aimed at us but we continued to move on,” said an employee wishing anonymity.
HPVT helps the needy irrespective of religion or caste or creed. Recalling an incident, Administrative Officer Baba said, “One day a (Amarnath) Yatri was left on the roadside after being completely neglected by the government hospitals. We took care of him. Within a short time he was able to walk of his own and left happily.”
The doctors associated with the trust form the front group of members as they interact with patients. Besides providing free medicine, they are always available for counseling.
Dr Taseer, one of the doctors associated with the trust, recalls an incident which he says, left a strong impression on him. “We were on a visit to a hospital. A boy was kept there in isolation ward where nobody dared to enter and thus deprived of medical care. The boy had bed sores and infection (Maggots). He was in a pitiable condition. We in presence of hospital staff washed his whole body and applied ointment. Continuously taking care for three months, the boy was recovered and we were delighted. He was a beautiful boy,” Dr Taseer said.
The trust plans to cover all hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir besides establishing counseling centers for mentally challenged, rehabilitation center for physically challenged patients, a diagnostic center and a multi-specialty OPD
(medical consultation). HPVT accepts donations.
