ANITA PAKHARE

Anita Pakhare is a 43 year old woman who was diagnosed with congestive heart disease in 2012. She was working in Security in a ladies’ hostel but, after she developed heart disease she had to stop working. Her husband had previously died of hepatitis in 2008. Anita doesn’t own her own home, but is living with her relatives in Ahmednagar (the main city nearest the Dispensary). She has one son who also works in Security. Now this son is taking training from a Security School and works also in a private company. He lives in Mumbai.

Anita was living in MIDC, which is 10 km (6.2 miles) from MFD in 2013 and her weight was 90 kg (200 pounds). She had breathlessness while walking so she started taking treatment for her heart from a doctor in another clinic. The medicines did not work well for her and, even if they had, she couldn’t afford to buy them. At that time her son was working in a private company in Ahmednagar and had only about Rs 3000/month ($47 USD) salary. One day her neighbour told her about the Meher Free Dispensary. So, in February 2013 she started coming to MFD. She says that now she feels much better with the treatment from MFD. She’s lost weight to 78 kg (170 pounds). She is also very happy because she doesn’t have to purchase the medicines from a local pharmacy nor pay any money to the doctor at MFD, since all treatment is free.

Temporarily now and for the next several months, Anita is living with her son in Mumbai. She continues to travel back to MFD monthly, however, while she is staying there.