Mosques in Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat Set Up Covid Centres, Offer Free Oxygen Cylinders

New Delhi, 21 Apr 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: As India is witnessing massive surge in the Covid-19 cases putting huge pressure on the healthcare system, mosques in different parts of the country have come forward to help Covid patients by setting up Covid centres and offering free oxygen cylinders.

In Gujarat’s Vadodara district, a mosque in Jahangirpura has been converted into a Covid centre providing 50 beds to the patients.

“Due to shortage of beds and oxygen cylinders, we decided to convert our mosque into Covid facility. And what’s better than the month of Ramadan to do this,” a trustee of the mosque was quoted by ANI as saying.

In Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area, a mosque known as Masjid Shahi Bagh Wali has set up a relief centre and issued a poster offering free of cost oxygen cylinders.

“Team Masjid Shahi Bagh Wali Covid-19 Relief Centre has initiated to provide Free 8 ltr. oxygen cylinders to the patients who need it at the time of emergency on a returnable basis. If anyone needs an Oxygen Cylinder, please Feel Free to Contact Us,” says the poster, giving contact details for different areas.

According to the poster, the mosque is providing free oxygen cylinders in Kalan Mahal, Turkman Gate, Shakoor ki Dandi, Kuchan Chellan, Mustafabad, Ajmeri Gate, Hauz Rani, Azad Market, Nizamuddin West and Tiraha Behram Khan.

In Mumbai, several mosques are providing oxygen with the help of an NGO Red Crescent Society of India.

“Since not all Covid-19 patients are getting beds in hospitals and many are being treated at home, we thought of making oxygen available to those who need it. It is being provided for free to people, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. This is our united fight against the pandemic and we thought of doing our bit to help the needy,” Arshad Siddiqui, chairman, Red Crescent Society of India, was quoted by the Times of India as saying.

These mosques which provide oxygen cylinders are in Mumbra, Mira Road, Kalyan and Bhiwandi.

Siddiqui, whose NGOs worked for the victims of Tsunami, earthquakes and Rohingayas, said that he involved mosques for such works because he wanted to start such good works from a sacred place. He also said that they are receiving requests from all communities.

Another NGO run by Muslims in Mumbai Olive Trust is also providing oxygen cylinders to Covid patients.

“Last year too, we had made arrangements for oxygen cylinders when the pandemic broke out. At that time, we were able to arrange cylinders easily. But this year, we are getting cylinders after a lot of difficulties. We were able to get only 50 cylinders,” said Trust’s Mufti Tahir.

He said that they are trying to provide cylinders to the patients as much as they can. They are doing all this amid the holy month of Ramazan and prayers. Their people are available for 24 hours. “Serving humanity is also a worship. We are trying to provide oxygen to Muslims as well as non-Muslims,” he said.

Also in Mumbai, a Muslim man Shahanwaz Shaikh is offering oxygen cylinders to Covid patients for free of cost in the city’s Malad area. He and his team of friends are providing oxygen cylinders with their own contributions. Sheikh sold his personal car, AC and other things to continue his service. He had done this service last year too when he had provided oxygen cylinders to around 500 people but this time he said that the demand is high and supply is low. And they are trying to meet the demands without any support from the administration.