31-year-old sold his SUV car which was his prized possession. Shahnawaz Shaikh bought his car in 2011, he also modified his car and spent extra on a premium plate and a customised music system, in the lockdown he has been using the car as an ambulance but he decided to sell his SUV and used the money to buy oxygen cylinders and give them for free to others in need.
On May 28, Shahnawaz’s business partner’s sister died of covid19 and was six months pregnant, she died outside a hospital after being turned away from five other hospitals.
On learning that her life could be saved if she had received oxygen at time, Shaikh decided to sell his SUV and thus he used the money to save life of others by distributing oxygen cylinders for free to the needy family, he has given oxygen cylinders to more than 250 families of coronavirus patients.
Shaikh told Mumbai Mirror that the woman’s husband took her to five hospitals but no one admitted her as some of the hospitals didn’t have vacant beds while others didn’t have ventilators.
The woman died in an autorickshaw outside the sixth hospital. Shaikh said that he told about the incident to some of his friends who are doctors and they said that the woman could be saved if she had been provided oxygen at time.
Thus after that he started researching about it and realised there was a shortage of oxygen cylinders on the market. He contacted a manufacturer through his friend and told him that he wants to distribute oxygen cylinders for free and he was touched by it.
After Shaikh acquired cylinders he spread the word on social media and said that there are just two steps to get oxygen cylinders:
1. A Doctor’s recommendation.
2. That those in need will come and pick it up themselves.
Shaikh said he gives each batch of relatives the oxygen kit and a crash course in its use, which he put together with the help of Dr Sabauddin Shaikh of Care Hospital. He said, “[Dr Shaikh] helped us make a video to demonstrate the use of the cylinders. He has also provided other support when needed.”
Mumbai Mirror asked him if it pained to sell his SUV, to which he said “No” and added that it’s not hard to give up car to save someone’s life. With the blessing of people he will be able to buy four such cars one day.
