For Amjad Ali Bukhari, life has not been an easy ride. He lost his father, an earning member of the family who used to work as a foreman at a steel mill, some 15 years ago. The family worked hard then and works hard now to make ends meet. “My family comprises of 9 family members and our total aggregate income is 27,000 rupees ($270). My son and I are the only breadwinners.” Yet, when Amjad leaves home each morning, reaches The Aman Foundation, changes into the green uniform in the locker room, and sits behind the steering wheel of the lifesaving ambulance assigned to him, he is a happy man. ” My inner satisfaction and peace comes from saving lives.”
Till 2009, Amjad who originally hails from Sialkot in Punjab, was working as a taxi driver, and then in 2009, he learnt of an opening in Aman Foundation for an ambulance driver. It’s been seven years and he has not looked back. “Aman Ambulance is the only ambulance here that has the potential to save lives,” he says, adding that the work environment is motivating as the staff at Aman is dedicated and passionate about the mission of transforming lives.
But the biggest motivation is incidents where he has been part of the miracle of bringing back a life from the clutches of death. As Aman’s ambulance drivers are also trained in basic first aid and lifesaving initiatives, he recalls one incident where he, along with the team, saved a life. “I received a call from Korangi 5 from a 60-years-old lady who was a heart patient. Shortly after I got to her, the patient collapsed and went in to cardiac arrest. I started CPR, and the nurse and the doctor worked on the patient as well. The patient was revived, and we were all happy to save a life.”
For Amjad, the discipline at the Aman Foundation, and the friendly atmosphere makes working here a pleasure. What has particularly helped him and his colleagues, he says, is the emphasis on soft skills’ training of the Aman staff, which helps him communicate and interact more effectively with people.
For Amjad, working with like-minded people who like to save lives is a pleasure. “I have done a course in disaster management, and I aspire to one day become a fire safety officer,” says the 46-years-old Amjad who enjoys playing cricket and also avails the facility of the Aman gym to stay fit.
When asked about his priorities, his answer is simple. “Work and family.”
