Muslims in several parts of India have turned mosques and madrassas into Covid care facilities for the patients as the Covid cases continue to rise every day, Anadolu Agency reported
India, on Saturday, recorded 4,01,993 new positive cases after recording more than 3 lakh positive cases every day for nine days straight beginning 22 April. The country has faced a severe shortage of oxygen, beds, and medicines since then.
As the government healthcare infrastructure crumbled, citizens have come forward to help each other fight the pandemic. Similarly, Muslim organizations have come forward to the rescue in the holy month of Ramzan.
In Vadodara, Gujarat, administrators running a Darul Uloom or Islamic seminary, have created a Covid care facility, which us equipped with oxygen fitted beds and isolation wards.
“The cases are rising rapidly and the demand for hospital beds is huge. We decided to open the facility because we want to help people,” principal Mufti Arif Abbas said, further adding, “The facility has been running since last week, and we have been able to provide treatment to a good number of people.”
In another report, it has been noted that a portion of a mosque in the city has been converted into a COVID facility.
“We have hired doctors to run the 50-bed center,” said Irfan Sheikh, one of the committee members of the Jahangirpura Mosque. Sheikh told that the center is equipped with oxygen as well. He said that the situation around compelled them to take the step.
Amid the shortage of oxygen in New Delhi, many clerics have come forward and announced that isolation centers for the Covid patients have been set up.
As desperate calls for beds and oxygen across the country have risen, various Muslim groups have started helpline numbers to provide leads about beds and oxygen.
“We started a relief task force a week ago. A control room in New Delhi with 30 people working is operational around the clock to help the patients,” said Musab Qazi, a spokesman of the Students Islamic Organization of India, the students’ wing of socio-religious organization Jamaat-e-Islami.
“Through our task force, we are helping people find beds, oxygen supply, and drugs like Remdesvir,” he added.
A significant number of patients succumbed to death due to the scarcity of oxygen and beds, given the huge number of patients seeking them. Many individuals and groups have started providing free oxygen cylinders to the needy all across the country.
Shahnawaz Shaikh, a resident of the worst affected state, Maharashtra, has been on the forefront to provide help to the patients. “We are providing people help by getting hospital beds, oxygen supply as well,” said Shaikh. He also said that while the number of calls was less earlier, now it is over 500 per day.
Various Community representatives have asked Muslim groups in the country to open more madrassas and other facilities for the Covid-19 patients.
“Given the present situation, everyone should immediately come forward. Madrassas, schools, and banquet halls run by Muslims should be used in this crisis. We have to fight it together, and at this point of time, the situation is very bad,” said Moulana Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, chief imam of the New Delhi-based All India Imam Organization.