Man ends Ramadan fast to save child

Alam ate before donating blood to child suffering from thalassaemia in Bihar

AMuslim man in Bihar on Tuesday ended his Ramadan fast to save the life of an eight-year-old Hindu boy suffering from thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder in which the body produces an abnormal form of haemoglobin.

Authorities said Jawaid Alam, in his 30s, ended his fast and consumed some liquid as well as solid food to donate blood to Rajesh Kumar, who required an instant blood transfusion to survive. Alam went all out to save the child as no one had come forward to donate blood despite repeated appeals.

As per reports, the child’s condition suddenly deteriorated on Tuesday, after which the family admitted him to the local government hospital in Gopalganj town.

Reports said the attending doctors asked the family to instantly arrange for blood but the hospital had no blood matching the patient’s blood group.

Subsequently, the child’s family made fervent appeals to people and in social media for blood donation to save the boy’s life, but no one came forward as the boy’s condition kept on deteriorating further.

Meanwhile, a hospital staff member contacted Alam, a member of the District Blood Donation Team (DBDT), and requested for blood. Reports said Alam initially hesitated, but soon rushed to the hospital, choosing humanity over religion.

But doctors refused his offer as he was on a fast, leading to Alam taking some food before donating blood. “I broke my holy fast as I thought saving the life of the child was more important than offering prayers,” Alam told media.