Select an inspirational woman to blog about. For example, Eunice Kennedy Shriver - the founder of Special Olympics. Provide info such as the woman's name, title of business/non-profit, notable bits of biography, any background info given why she created her charitable focus, and reasons (preferably related to health/wellness) why you consider her an inspirational woman. Please be sure to list any source/s at the end.
This week I wanted to share about a professional nurse who changed people lives every day. Her name is Bilqus Bano Edhi. She is a humanitarian and a social worker. She was born in 1947 in Karachi, Pakistan. She is also known as the Mother of Pakistan (Abdulla, F. n.d.). She is married to a very famous philanthropist of Pakistan Abdul Sattar Edhi. Together the couple has four children who are involved with the Edhi Foundation and the management of the Edhi village, the fleet of ambulances, the mental home, the schools and the offices in Pakistan and London. Edhi Foundation which was started by Abdual Sattar Edhi with the mission to provide aid to Bilquis was a young teenager when she joined Edhi nurses training center. It was a six month training program where disciplines such as midwifery and basic healthcare were taught to women who joined the program. Her enthusiasm, response and interest during her training made her stand out from among her colleagues. Abdul Sttar Edhi took notice of her at an early stage and put her in-charge of the nursing department. Later, Edhi sahib proposed to her for marriage and the two were married in April 1966. Their honeymoon was unusual in that the newlyweds discovered a young girl with head injuries at their dispensary just after their wedding ceremony, they decided to help the girl instead of going on to their honeymoon. Besides lending tremendous support to her husband, Bilquis Edhi has also brought with her added value in terms of her ability of identifying new areas of public welfare thus adding to the number of services offered at the Edhi Foundation.
Before Abdul Edhi meet Bilquis he had a small expanding dispensary in Karachi but afterwards Bilquis Edhi took the charge and expended her helping hands throughout the country. Now, they have 250 Edhi centers throughout the country (Edhi Foundation. n.d.).
Abdulla, F. (n.d.). Women of Pakistan - Bilquis Edhi. Jazbah Magazine - Profiles and Interviews. Retrieved December 6, 2010, from http://www.jazbah.org/bilquis.php
Edhi Foundation. (n.d.). Edhi Foundation. Retrieved December 6, 2010, from http://www.edhifoundation.com
I'm glad that you took the initiative to read about this woman and share her story in your blog. That's really neat. She sounds like an amazing woman and very aspiring. It is so neat that people have the amount of love and compassion in their hearts to do so much for others, even if they don't have a lot themselves. Truly honorable. The fac that she helps battered women, the homeless, orphans, drug addicts, etc. is very astounding. I can see how you would look up to someone like that. It really makes me want to go out and help someone in need!
ReplyDelete-Sarah Petersen
Thank you for sharing about her! I always enjoy reading about inspirational women! It's so great that she was discovered and helped even more to gain more knowledge and opportunity for herself to help others. It's nice to know there are people out there who really do care sincerely about helping others, not matter the need or cause.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sharing!
-Courtney
Susmani,
ReplyDeleteBilqus Bano Edhi is an inspriational woman.It is easy to feel bad for the poor and sick and sometimes it is possible to give monetarily to help them. But, those who dedicate their lives to meeting the needs of others can inspire us to do the same. We need to reach out to those in our neighborhoods who have needs and meet them with our skills and resources. Sometimes we think we have nothing to offer but every hand is awelcome when you are in need. Thanks for providing another reminder to be a woman who makes a difference.
Susmani,
ReplyDeleteWOW! What a fantastic blog! I have never heard of this woman or foundation so thank you for talking about it. She, and her husband, both sound like amazing people. It's very interesting to find out about inspirational people in other countries, especially in the middle east where USA typically thinks negatively...so it seems. Anyway, thank you for reminding us that amazing people are everywhere doing amazing things for the greater good. What selfless acts this woman has shown over the years and a wonderful example for all of us to follow in some way, no matter big or small. Thanks so much!~Heather
Susmani,
ReplyDeleteThis was really a great read! I love reading about women who have over come so much and have extended a helping hand above and beyond of what is asked. This was a great reminder of what we should all be focused on and thats helping others in need! Great blog!
Sara Abbasi