Mumbai: 'Good Samaritan’ who helps patients find way around Sir JJ Hospital

One of the oldest and most prominent government hospitals of Mumbai Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy JJ Hospital at Byculla sees the footfall of thousands on a daily basis The overburdened staff at the staterun hospital hardly have time to guide the ones who are unable to find their way around the hospitalIn view of this 42yearold Abubaker Qadri whom the hospital staff calls a good Samaritan has been proactively helping underprivileged or illiterate walkin patients over the past decade stated a report in Hindustan TimesQadri who lives in Pydhonie which is a kilometre away from the hospital is a regular at Sir JJ Hospital and is often seen holding a bunch of documents along with files of several patients moving from one department to another He is known for helping underprivileged patients deal with hospital management for over 10 years acting as a mediator and helping them fill out registration forms enrolling them in available government health schemes solving issues between staff and patients and even pulling appointments with doctorsHe provides this help free of charge and earns his livelihood through a small side printing business which he runs early in the morning His wife is a teacher at a private school The couple collectively earn up to Rs 50000 each monthldquoHaving spent my teenage years around this hospital I have witnessed tragic accidents and the hassle that patients and their relatives go through In 2010 a friend had asked me to help with someonersquos admission at the hospital That was when I saw how clueless patients had to run from one counter to another due to a single mistake in their documentationrdquo he saidSince then Qadri continued helping patients in his free time ldquoI only help those who come through referral I attend to 1015 different cases on a daily basis My family and my mentor Ali Bhai have been my guiding lightsrdquo he saidAnswering to why he continues to help people despite no payback he said ldquoAllah has given me enough and he has given me an opportunity to help the ones in need why should I waste it I donrsquot need peoplersquos money their blessings are my rewardrdquoDr TP Lahane director of state Directorate for Medical Education and Research DMER and former dean of Sir JJ Hospital said ldquoAbubaker is a good soul He has helped with a lot of lawandorder situations in the hospital and is always there for the needyrdquoQadri spends around six to seven hours a day doing this work and despite the COVID19 pandemic he did not stop Instead he crowdfunded and arranged meals for 600 patients at the hospital on a daily basis for three months since the lockdown was announcedOne of the senior most health officials at the hospital said ldquoAbu has been a crucial part of our hospital administration He has arranged food for patients throughout the lockdown and has earned enormous trust of our staff which is why all issues of his patients are solved immediatelyrdquoQadri said ldquoI wish to continue doing this for as long as I can I think there is a need for more volunteers who are trustworthy and can help the patients without illtreating themrdquo