Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

Nine years ago when Bilqees Ara had barely joined as an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker, th21-year old woman from a remote village of Gund Chabotra of Kupwara district, located close to the Line of Control in Northern Kashmir, was faced with a difficult situation.

Her cousin and neighbour Tabassum was an expectant mother and doctors had told her she needed a blood transfusion immediately. Doctors referred her to the Baramulla hospital, from where she was sent to Srinagar’s Lal Ded Maternity hospital. It was clear that her life and that of her unborn child was in danger.

Doctors told Tabassum she required at least 11 blood points to be saved. “There was no male member around,” Bilqees told Awaz-the Voice. Tabassum’s husband was in the CRPF and posted in Assam.

Bilqees was 21 at that time and she had a year old child. She took the hard decision to save the life of a mother and her child and decided to donate blood, something rare for a woman to do in that society.

Bilqees in the field

Bilqees was happy to have saved the life of her cousin and her child. After a few days, she was told that her body had regained the loss and maintained her level of 9 blood points.

“I was told (by the doctors) that there was no harm in donating and one could donate after around every three months”, Bilqees said, she continued to do her routine work without any problem after donating the blood.

Soon after her first donation, Bilqees Ara faced another challenge in life. Her one-year-old son was running a high fever and was admitted to the Children’s Hospital, Srinagar. He slipped into a coma for two days. Bilqees donated her blood and the child was revived.

While her son was recuperating in the hospital, a family from Drugmulla village of Kupwara was also faced with a similar situation. “Their only male child, born after four girls, was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition. The child also needed blood transfusion”, Bilqees told Awaz-the voice.

She was moved by the plight of the family and wished she could donate again. However, doctors strictly advise donors to keep a gap of three months between two donations.

Bilqees receiving an award

The mother in Bilqees was so distressed by the plight of the little child that she decided to risk her life and donated her A+ blood. She covered her face while donating so that the staff don’t recognize her.

She didn’t even tell about this to her husband, Tariq Ahmad.  Bilqees believed that her act would save both the children. It happened and both the kids left the hospital soon.”It was due to Allah's grace,” she said.   

Bilqees must have felt weak and yet she was back to normal life in a few days.

There has been no looking back, as Bilqees continues her voluntary blood donation and she has crossed the mark of rare 25 blood points in nine years.

“I have received many certificates for blood donation from different hospitals. I have mostly donated for my patients who develop complications and are usually referred to big hospitals,” she said.

Not only assisting her community in the rural area in delivery cases, this ASHA worker, is also engaged in immunization, distribution of gold (health) cards and the ant- Covid-19 vaccination campaigns.

Bilqees vaccinating an eldely woman

Bilqees has administered over 500 doses of the Corona vaccine in the age group of 18-45 years and over 350 doses in the above 45 years of age in the second phase.

While we applaud the work of Bilquees, it should be kept in mind that despite being the lifeline of rural healthcare in India, ASHA workers are poorly paid.

Ghulam Rasool, Health Educator and trainer of the ASHA workers in Langate says Bilqees Ara has been “supporting” the healthcare work “at every level” and she works systematically.

He said Bilqees is a great motivator and has managed to prevail upon many people who were scared of getting vaccinated. She has achieved 100% target of vaccination.