With an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases, overwhelmed Indian hospitals and medical facilities have found an ally in Muslim groups have converted mosques into COVID-19 care facilities, in response to crucial bed space in hospitals.
"The COVID-19 situation in the city is not good and people are not getting beds in hospitals, so we decided to open the facility to provide relief to the people,” said Irfan Sheikh, trustee of the Jahangirpura mosque.
The Jahangirpura mosque in the western state of Gujarat’s Vadodara city was transformed into a 50-bed facility to treat patients suffering from the virus. Irfan Sheikh also said that the facility could add 50 more beds if the oxygen supply was dependable.
The Darool Uloom mosque in the same city also opened its doors to 142 beds fitted with oxygen as 20 nurses and three doctors are on site.
“We can make 1,000-bed COVID-19 facilities, but the oxygen supply is a constraint,” said Ashfaq Malek Tandalja, a member of the mosque’s managing committee.
While these facilities are located in a predominantly Muslim area, patients from all faiths are admitted.
“Humanity knows no religion,” Sheikh said. “Common people understand each other and want to live in peace.”
"The COVID-19 situation in the city is not good and people are not getting beds in hospitals, so we decided to open the facility to provide relief to the people,” said Irfan Sheikh, trustee of the Jahangirpura mosque.
The Jahangirpura mosque in the western state of Gujarat’s Vadodara city was transformed into a 50-bed facility to treat patients suffering from the virus. Irfan Sheikh also said that the facility could add 50 more beds if the oxygen supply was dependable.
The Darool Uloom mosque in the same city also opened its doors to 142 beds fitted with oxygen as 20 nurses and three doctors are on site.
“We can make 1,000-bed COVID-19 facilities, but the oxygen supply is a constraint,” said Ashfaq Malek Tandalja, a member of the mosque’s managing committee.
While these facilities are located in a predominantly Muslim area, patients from all faiths are admitted.
“Humanity knows no religion,” Sheikh said. “Common people understand each other and want to live in peace.”
