In Peshawar, Pakistan, Nomina Akhtar continues her work to eradicate polio in spite of her battle with cancer.
For the past six years, Nomina Akhtar, a mother of three and community health worker, has been helping protect children from polio in Peshawar. Then she was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer. By the time it was detected, it was already too late. She was devastated.
Since the pandemic, her husband had to close down his shop, which is yet to reopen. Nomina now remains the sole breadwinner of her family. Her three children, aged 18, 7 and 6, now rely completely on her income.
Supported by her fellow polio workers and the friends she made through the programme, Nomina continued her work while undergoing cancer treatment.
“I gathered my courage and thought, ‘I will fight till the end and live for my children.’ All my family, colleagues and seniors were with me whenever I needed support. That gave me courage and made me believe that I could, in fact, beat cancer,” says Nomina.
Managing her work and cancer treatment has been physically and mentally exhausting. She has to commute 20 kilometres daily for chemotherapy, all after a whole day's work.
“When I have to go for chemotherapy after work, it becomes very draining. I have to take public transport and wait at the hospital for hours. There are times when I have to return without treatment because either the machine is faulty or something else comes up. This treatment regime, along with the medicine, will continue for at least five years. It’s excruciatingly painful,” she says.
The polio programme has been a source of great strength.
“My colleagues are like my extended family. I’m like a sister to them. When I found out about my cancer, they wept with me. They have stood by my children and me every step of the way,” Nomina adds.
Area Supervisor Uzma Mansoor says they were devastated when they first heard the news. “But it’s great to see that she hasn’t lost hope and is fighting the disease like a champion.”
The community she works in has also been incredibly supportive.
“Some of the people in my target community came to know about my illness and appreciate the fact that, despite fighting cancer, I came to their doorstep. Irrespective of extreme temperatures and illness, I’m there to vaccinate their children and protect them from this life-threatening disease. Their support has increased manifold after this,” says Nomina.
Sahibullah, the Union Council Polio Officer of her area, says that not only did Nomina not allow her work to suffer, but she remains among the best workers.
“She is a role model for all.”
“It was God’s will, and we will face it with courage,” says her husband, Aurangzeb Akhtar. “Despite being ill, Nomina is the one who keeps us going. She is working and earning for our family as well as motivating us not to lose hope. My children and I are so proud of her. Inshallah, she will get well very soon.”
Nomina continues fighting cancer and polio simultaneously and is determined that she will defeat both very soon.
“At least cancer has treatment,” she says. “Polio is incurable.”
