Abdul Sattar Edhi: Encyclopedia II - Abdul Sattar Edhi - Starting Up

Abdul Sattar Edhi - Starting Up

In 1947 his family moved to Karachi in Pakistan after the Partition of India. In 1951 he used the money he saved up while he was looking after his mother to purchase a small shop. It was at this shop he opened a tiny dispensary with the help of a doctor who taught him basic medical care, he also encouraged his friends to give literacy classes inside. Edhi had spent his life a simple man, and would continue to do so, he would sleep on a concrete bench outside the dispensary so he was available at any time to help people.

In 1957 a major flu epidemic swept Karachi, Edhi was quick to react, he set up tents on the outskirts of the city to distribute free immunizations. Grateful residents donated generously to Edhi and so did the rest of Pakistan after hearing of his deeds. With all the donation money he bought the rest of the building his dispensary was located in, and opened a free maternity centre and nursing school. Edhi Foundation was born.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Starting Up", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki