Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: Acting as a saviour for scores of people, an ASHA worker from North Kashmir’s Handwara has so far donated her blood at least 25 times in over 9 years.
By her determination, she has turned out to be a role model for her colleagues and has set an example among other workers who are catering to the healthcare needs of the people living in the villages.
Hailing from Gundchabotra village of Kralgund Tehsil in Handwara, Bilqees Ara who is in her early thirties has been working as an ASHA worker since 2012 and soon after that she had an opportunity of becoming a ‘blood donator’ when her cousin was in immediate need of blood.
“In the same year, my cousin was pregnant and she was referred to Lal Ded Hospital, her condition deteriorated there and her family was asked to arrange blood; there I came to the front and donated blood which saved her life at that time and since then, I have not stopped at all,” Bilqees said.
She said that it was a great feeling to know that her blood has saved the life of her cousin. “And that is the feeling that has kept me going so far,” she said.
Bilqees said that she donates blood often so that the lives of people, who do not get the blood well in time, are saved. “It is something which keeps me going and I would like to request people to come forward for blood donation and save lives,” she said.
She said that blood donation does not affect health in any way and that feeling that the donated blood saved a life is priceless. “I have donated my blood 25 times so far and it has not affected my life,” she said, adding that people around her are supportive including her husband.