Mohammad Shamim Hussain / Kolkata

As India’s corona infection curve bends stories of human grit and determination of serving the humanity in the most trying times have started surfacing.

One of the stories is that of a Kolkata woman ambulance driver Salina Begum. She ferried hundreds of patients to the hospital in her vehicle despite the fear of contracting the infection.

Her service is commendable as most male drivers refused to serve the sick because of the fear of infection; they also charged higher amount for the services from patients, who were desperate to reach hospitals and couldn’t be carried in private or commercial vehicles.

Hailing from Deccan Hamabad Raiganj (Dakshin Dinajpur), Saleena ferried dozens of patients to the hospital in her private ambulance daily for reasonable compensation.

The youngest of her eight siblings, Salina was trained as an ambulance driver two years ago. She is a post-graduate.

District magistrate Kumar Man of Uttar Dinajpurhad arrangement training 15 women in ambulance driving and Salina was one of them. Salina said she received training along with 14 other women.

 Always ready to serve, Salina had the record of ferrying five patients to hospital in one go.

She told Awaz the Voice that most of the patients of her area used to go to Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital. “We did not set any limit due to the lockdown. We took patients to any hospital or nursing homes as required and didn’t refuse to ply if they wanted to go to distant locations,” Salina said.

She said she is the only earning woman at home. She said, “Money is essential for running affairs at home. Why would I stay at home in such a situation? We worked keeping the government's guidance in mind.”