Jahanara Begum lives in Mirpur with her husband, three daughters and son and ran a handicrafts business. However for much of 2016, Jahanara was bed-ridden with fever, in excruciating pain. After seeing a gynecologist, Jahanara was diagnosed with a severe uterine infection and was advised to undergo immediate surgery to avoid the risk of cancer.

Although the procedure’s cost was approximately Tk. 60,000, her husband’s income as a rod worker and her business’ earnings proved insufficient. Jahanara scrambled to borrow desperately from several sources and was also forced to use up her capital, which resulted in ruining her business. Jahanara underwent surgery at Azmal Hospital on July 25, 2016.

As a long-time member of Shakti Foundation, who received regular check-ups from their local health center, Jahanara shared her health predicament with the Shakti health unit. The health worker promptly secured a Shakti health grant of Tk. 10,000 for Jahanara during this difficult period. Jahanara used the grant money to pay for two blood transfusions she needed after her surgery.

Jahanara has now fully recovered and goes for regular check-ups and has been able to restart her business with a new microcredit loan from Shakti. Her eldest daughter is married, the second daughter goes to college, and the youngest daughter and son study in class 8. Jahanara is very grateful to Shakti Foundation’s timely and critical health grant to complete her treatment that restored her livelihood and family’s well being.