Karimul Haque’s bike ambulance, a ray of hope in Dhalabari village

Lack of medicals facilities in the rural areas of the country continues to remain a problem even 70 years after Independence. Some villages are so remote that even basic health care facilities are absent and conditions of the roads is such that even the ambulances cannot reach on time.

With this kind of situation in the villages we must salute the initiative taken by 50-year-old Karimul Haque, also known as the 'Bike-Ambulance-Dada'. Haque, tea estate worker from Dhalabari Village in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, runs a bike ambulance service and ferries the weak and sick to the nearby hospital.

Karimul's bike ambulance has now become the only lifeline for 20 villages in and around Dhalabari. He has become a ray of hope to the villagers.

Since 1998, Haque has been providing ambulance coverage to over 20 villages in and around Dhalabari where basic amenities such as roads and electricity are not present, and the nearest hospital is 45 kilometres away.

In 1995, Karimul went from door-to-door for help when his mother was in dire need of medical attention. Unable to find an ambulance, and because of not getting timely medical help, his mother passed away. Following this, he took a vow to not let anyone else die due to lack of ambulance facilities.

Besides the ambulance service he also provides basic first aid with training from local doctors to villagers. He also holds periodic health camps in tribal regions.

Haque was awarded Padam Shri this year for his service to the society, especially in a rural region which is backward in terms of medical facilities.

OneIndia News