Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :
Many individuals dedicate their lives to serving humanity but remain away from the limelight. Through their compassion and commitment, they make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Shakil Ahmed of Jalgaon, Maharashtra, is one such individual who has devoted nearly two decades to helping critically ill patients access affordable treatment.
A few years ago, I met Shakil in Mumbai and wanted to write about his inspiring work, but could not do so at the time. Recently, when he visited Delhi, I invited him to the Muslim Mirror office to learn more about his journey and the humanitarian initiative he has built through the First Aid Foundation (FAF).
Shakil’s mission began in 2008 when he visited a critically ill patient at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital. The suffering of the patient and the distress of the family deeply moved him. He realised that for families confronting life-threatening diseases such as cancer, the challenge was not just the illness itself but also the enormous cost of treatment and the difficulty of navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system.
That experience changed his life. He decided to help patients who struggled to obtain treatment because of financial constraints or a lack of information about affordable medical facilities.
Over the past 18 years, Shakil, through the First Aid Foundation, has helped more than 2,100 patients who travelled to Mumbai for treatment. By guiding them towards government and charitable hospitals, he has helped families avoid the high costs of private healthcare, saving them crores of rupees.
The foundation’s assistance goes beyond identifying suitable hospitals. It guides patients towards medical institutions equipped to treat their specific illnesses and connects them with wholesale dealers of medicines and surgical supplies, helping them obtain essential items at lower prices. Since specialised medicines can be prohibitively expensive, these connections can significantly reduce treatment costs.
The foundation also directs patients to diagnostic centres offering CT scans and MRI scans at affordable rates. For families already struggling to arrange money for treatment, reducing the cost of medical investigations can provide substantial relief.
Accommodation is another major concern. Patients often arrive in Mumbai with family members and must remain there for weeks or months. The cost of staying near a hospital can add considerably to their financial burden. FAF helps families find inexpensive accommodation so they can remain close to their loved ones without exhausting their limited resources.
Explaining the urgency of his mission, Shakil points out that people often plan major expenses, such as marriages or purchasing a house, years in advance. But life-threatening illnesses, including cancer and brain haemorrhage, can strike without warning.
“For a middle-class family, arranging Rs 5–10 lakh for the treatment of a critical illness can be almost unbearable. In cases of bone marrow failure, treatment may require Rs 25–30 lakh,” he says.
Families frequently sell jewellery or property, or borrow money at high interest rates, to meet these expenses. Even when the patient survives, the family may be left financially devastated, having lost its savings and accumulated substantial debt.
“Helping such families obtain treatment at the minimum possible cost is our mission,” Shakil says.
When treatment at a government or charitable hospital is not feasible, the foundation connects patients with non-governmental organisations that provide financial assistance. These networks can be a lifeline for families who have exhausted their savings and cannot afford further treatment.
Shakil believes patients need more than medical care during such a crisis. They also require encouragement and emotional support.
“Such patients need two things at the critical moment: encouragement and financial support,” he says. “We try to motivate them to face their situation boldly, provide them with pamphlets containing supplications, and guide them towards government or charitable hospitals in Mumbai.”
His approach recognises the emotional toll of serious illness. Patients and their families often experience fear, uncertainty and helplessness. Reliable guidance and reassurance can help them navigate a difficult period with greater confidence.
Shakil is now working to secure a dedicated accommodation facility on rent in Mumbai for patients and their families. It would provide temporary shelter to those arriving from different parts of the country who cannot afford hotels or other costly arrangements. Such a facility would also help families stay near hospitals during prolonged treatment.
Realising this plan will require financial assistance and the cooperation of individuals and organisations committed to humanitarian service.
Shakil Ahmed’s work demonstrates how sustained individual effort can make a tangible difference in people’s lives. By helping patients find appropriate hospitals, access affordable medicines and diagnostic services, and secure low-cost accommodation, the First Aid Foundation addresses several practical challenges that accompany serious illness.
For vulnerable families, a lack of reliable information can make a medical emergency even more difficult. Without guidance, they may struggle to identify suitable treatment options or face expenses they cannot afford. FAF seeks to bridge this gap through practical assistance, guidance and emotional support.
While private hospitals provide important specialised services, the high cost of treatment can place healthcare beyond the reach of ordinary families. Patients need reliable information to understand their options and make informed decisions. The foundation’s work helps them explore more affordable alternatives wherever appropriate.
Shakil may not receive widespread media attention, but his contribution is measured in the lives he has helped and the financial hardship he has eased. His journey is a reminder that meaningful humanitarian work does not always require a large organisation or public recognition; it requires compassion, commitment and a willingness to stand beside people in their most difficult moments.
Those who consider service to humanity a form of worship should come forward to support the First Aid Foundation. Financial contributions, institutional partnerships and voluntary assistance could help it reach more patients and establish the proposed accommodation facility in Mumbai.
Saving a life does not always mean performing a medical procedure. It can also mean helping a patient reach the right hospital, obtain affordable medicines, find a place to stay or giving a distressed family the courage to carry on.
For nearly two decades, Shakil Ahmed has made this his mission. Supporting the First Aid Foundation would help extend that mission to more critically ill patients who need affordable treatment, practical guidance and a helping hand when they need it most.
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Email: firstaid2015@yahoo.com /
Contact: 9970809946/8668333602
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Positive Story / by Syed Zubair Ahmad / October 12th, 2026