Mumbai: A 35-year-old Mumbaikar has been a source of inspiration for the HIV-AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes) and TB (tuberculosis) patients for the last 12 years. Shankar Mughalkhod has helped more than 2,000 patients and his aim is to ensure that every sufferer of HIV-AIDS and TB gets proper treatment.
According to Sewri TB hospital doctors, no one takes the initiative to help TB patients like Shankar does. If he sees a TB-affected person on the road, he brings them to the TB hospital.
“He brings patients to the hospital and ensures they are treated on time. And, once the patients are cured, he drops them home,” said doctors. The desire to help others was born in Shankar after he endured many hardships in his formative years, when he lived in Mumbai Central. His mother worked for the welfare of women in the redlight area of Kamathipura.
Inspired by his mother, he decided to take forward her legacy by providing social service to HIV patients. “I work to ensure the women get treatment regardless of their profession. Earlier, I worked for HIV patients, but after witnessing the rise in HIV patients affected with TB, I began to work for both these causes,” said Shankar.
The public, as well as doctors are afraid to get close to TB patients. Often, the ailing member is just abandoned by their family. “Whenever I spot a patient lying on the road, I admit him to the hospital. After their treatment is over, I drop them home as well,” he said.
Now, Shankar has a mobile van service, which is used like an ambulance, to ferry patients. Earlier, he had no helpers, but now, his wife and kids also have come forward to support him in his endeavours. Shankar himself pays for the treatment of patients or takes help from NGOs.
