While India grapples for breath in this grim COVID era, a man from Mumbai has come forward to give life to anyone and everyone who seeks help from him.
Shahnawaz Shaikh, a construction developer cum social worker, sold his own SUV (Ford Endeavour) worth Rs. 22 Lakhs to provide free oxygen cylinders to the patients suffering from COVID. He has now also started a helpline and a supply scheme which is turning out to be a lifesaver for many. With this, he has become a social media star and is now popularly known as the Oxygen Man of Mumbai.
He started delivering free oxygen for the first time during the first wave of COVID when his friend’s cousin died due to lack of oxygen in an auto-rickshaw. That is exactly when he learned that timely oxygen support could have saved her life. This instantly propelled him to sell his SUV to buy medicines and oxygen cylinders for COVID patients.
The initiative is part of his NGO – Unity & Dignity Foundation which is based in Malad. Shaikh is the Founder and President of UDF along with Mr. Abbas Rizvi, the Chairman. The UDF is primarily functioning to address, resolve, and put to rest the grievances of the masses at large – particularly, those sections of society, who are underprivileged, ignorant, or unaware of their legal rights.
“Earlier, we were not able to work properly due to lack of funding. I thought things like my SUV can be bought again, what is important right now is to help others. That’s why I sold it and certain other things, and that’s how we were able to help others,” mentions Shaikh to LifeBeyondNumbers.
In the year 2020, with a total of 200 cylinders, he and his team of 20 have since helped nearly 6,000 people, saving numerous lives. Within this second wave, Sheikh says his team has helped more than 600 people with oxygen cylinders. The demand for oxygen has increased drastically lately, he notes.
“Last year when we started, we had provided oxygen to around 5,000 to 6,000 people. This year, there is a shortage of oxygen in the city. So, where we used to get 50 calls earlier, we now get around 500 to 600 every day,” Shahnawaz informed.
Shaikh and his team have set up war rooms to help people to supply oxygen where they attend these calls and connect with all medical facilities.
“We have set up a war room in one of the grocery stores in our area. Here we attend the calls and have data of all private and government hospitals and ambulance services. We are trying to help as many people as we can,” Sheikh said.
They are doing their best to help all in need. Apart from providing the cylinders, they are also instructing the patients about the usage. Most of the patients deliver empty cylinders to their control room after use.
“We are targeting to reach all the people who are in need. We are requesting them to come and pick up the oxygen cylinders. We explain to them the procedure to use the oxygen cylinders and provide them with the kit,” he further said.
On a spiritual note, Sheikh said that the teachings of Prophet Muhammad inspired him to take the initiative, which he hopes will help people shed a “negative image” about the Muslim community in the country.
“There is so much negativity about Muslims in our country today. I want to change that image,” he says.
To help him and his team to keep up the good work, click here.