Hyderabad-based pharmacist-turned-humanitarian Dr Mohammad Sujathullah and his non-profit organisation, the Humanity First Foundation (HFF), have served more than 10 million free meals over 3,650 consecutive days, completing a decade of uninterrupted service to underprivileged communities. The 32-year-old changemaker provides breakfast to over 1,000 people every morning, particularly patients and their attendants outside government hospitals, including Niloufer Children’s Hospital, Koti Maternity Hospital and the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).
What began in 2016 as a student’s promise to feed 10 hungry people after passing an examination has developed into a large-scale humanitarian initiative supported by volunteers, public contributions and crowdfunding. Alongside food distribution, Sujathullah has established Humanity Hospital in Nanal Nagar, Hyderabad, providing subsidised medical treatment, surgical procedures and free dialysis services to people unable to afford expensive healthcare.
The hospital follows a no-profit, no-loss model, extending the foundation’s work to two fundamental needs: nutrition and medical care. Reflecting on the milestone, Sujathullah said that although the initiative had expanded considerably, its purpose remained unchanged: ensuring that nobody goes hungry or is denied life-saving treatment because of financial difficulties.
10 Million Meals In A Decade
The Humanity First Foundation’s breakfast initiative follows a disciplined daily routine, with food distribution beginning every morning outside major government hospitals in Hyderabad. Sujathullah and a rotating group of volunteers prepare and distribute freshly cooked meals to people who often spend entire nights waiting outside hospital premises. Many beneficiaries are patients’ relatives and attendants who travel from distant villages and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to access medical treatment in the city. With limited financial resources, these families frequently struggle to manage everyday expenses, including food, accommodation and medicines during prolonged hospital visits.
Recognising these difficulties, the foundation has made providing breakfast a central part of its humanitarian work. The daily menu includes hot upma prepared with ghee and milk, accompanied by traditional chutney. The meal costs approximately ₹5 per person, with bulk preparation helping keep expenses low. The foundation spends around ₹5,000 every day on the breakfast programme, which is sustained through public crowdfunding and individual contributions.
More than 1,000 people benefit from the initiative daily. The milestone of 10 million meals across 3,650 consecutive days reflects the consistency of the effort, which has continued without missing a single morning. In a statement released by the foundation, Sujathullah said, “When I started the Humanity First Foundation, I never imagined we would come this far.”
He further explained that what began with feeding people had gradually expanded into work that helps families access critical medical care. “There is still so much I want to do, but my aim remains the same: to make sure no one goes hungry or is denied life-saving treatment simply because they cannot afford it,” he added. His words underline the organisation’s broader commitment to supporting people whose financial circumstances make even basic necessities difficult to access.
From A Student’s Promise To A Hospital
The foundation’s journey began in 2016, when Sujathullah was studying pharmacy at Sultan-ul-Uloom College of Pharmacy. While awaiting the results of a difficult examination, he made a personal promise that if he passed, he would feed 10 hungry people. After clearing the examination, he used his pocket money to purchase 10 food packets and distributed them among people at Secunderabad Railway Station. The experience gave him a different perspective on hunger and the struggles faced by people living on the streets.
His family members initially supported the effort by contributing a portion of their monthly earnings towards preparing and distributing meals. However, as he continued witnessing the difficulties faced by economically disadvantaged people, he realised that occasional food distribution could not address a problem that existed every day. The initiative gradually developed into a regular programme, with volunteers, friends and individual donors helping sustain its operations. During his work outside government hospitals, Sujathullah also encountered another recurring problem: families struggling to afford medical treatment.
He observed that financial constraints often forced patients to delay essential surgeries and struggle to access necessary healthcare. This encouraged him to expand his work beyond food security. He subsequently established Humanity Hospital in Nanal Nagar, Hyderabad, to make medical services more accessible to people with limited financial means. The facility operates on a no-profit, no-loss model supported by public contributions. Its infrastructure includes an eight-bed intensive care unit, three operation theatres and four specialised dialysis machines.
The hospital reportedly performs between 50 and 60 major surgical procedures every month, with treatment costs approximately 50 per cent lower than those at traditional corporate healthcare facilities. It also provides free dialysis services for patients with chronic kidney conditions who cannot afford regular treatment. Through this expansion, the foundation seeks to address two interconnected challenges affecting vulnerable households: access to nutritious food and affordable medical care.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe meaningful social change begins with empathy and the willingness to act. Dr Mohammad Sujathullah’s journey from distributing 10 food packets to serving over 10 million meals shows how a small act of kindness, sustained through commitment and collective support, can transform countless lives.
His work reminds us that hunger and healthcare are fundamental human concerns, not privileges determined by financial circumstances. No family should have to choose between buying essential medicines and arranging a basic meal for a loved one.
While charitable initiatives cannot replace accessible public healthcare, they can bridge critical gaps and inspire collective responsibility. Sujathullah’s efforts also demonstrate that compassion transcends caste, religion and economic differences. Human suffering has no boundaries, and kindness should have none either.
What small step can you take in your neighbourhood to help someone facing hunger or struggling to afford healthcare?
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