Makkah Masjid, situated at the Shanti Nagar area of Maharashtra’s Thane district adjacent Bhiwandi town, has been transformed into a Covid-care facility with five beds and oxygen cylinders. Some of these oxygen cylinders are also set aside for rotational usage by the patients at home.
The facility, set up on the ground floor of the mosque, started functioning on June 14, in the wake of the rising numbers of Covid-infected patients. The local wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH)– Movement for Peace and Justice in collaboration with the Shanti Nagar Trust, responsible for the operations of the mosque, has established the facility. The purposes are to facilitate coronavirus-positive patients having breathing troubles with free of cost oxygen and to get oxygen cylinders delivered to patients, incapable of reaching the facility in-person.
Apart from that, the facility is also sanitizing its premises regularly and aiding local doctors tuned volunteers for the mosque with adequate PPE kits.
“We appealed to every local doctor, who are general practitioners to open their clinic in the wake of this pandemic. People need doctor’s help but due to fear of contacting the infection, doctors have shut their clinics,” mentioned Qaiser Mirza, a member of Shanti Nagar Trust.
“Makkah Masjid was shut to worshippers and was lying idle due to the pandemic and lockdown. We decided to use some of the premises of the mosque to help those who can’t avail treatment facilities elsewhere,” explained Qaiser Mirza. “We have made arrangements for five beds, 10 oxygen cylinders, four ward boys, two doctors, and another five doctors in case of emergencies. Till now, around, 162 patients have made use of our facility. If any patient’s condition turns critical then we send them to a nearby hospital for further treatment,” he added.
Most of the patients availing the services there are elderly people with already existing health risks and mostly, they hail from the nearby slum areas. Though they are requested to pay Rs.150 for the arrangement of the equipment that comes with the cylinder, it is optional as many of them are even unable to afford that much. The facility is also delivering cylinders at home, primarily on the condition that the refills are returnable. The volunteers at the facility have been guiding the patients over the phone regarding their usage.
“The facility has reserved 25 small oxygen cylinders that can be used free of charge by patients at home. However, patients who cannot travel to our facility, due to age or illness issues, they can contact us and we will have it delivered to them free of cost,” mentioned Mirza. As of June 26, at least 35 patients have taken the services at home, of which 9 are Hindus.
39 percent and 56 percent of the power-loom township’s (Bhiwandi) total population are Hindus and Muslims, respectively. In the past years, during the two major riots of 1970 and 1984, the township was turned into a hot-bed of communal spite until the post-riot efforts were made by the mohalla committee movement. Despite the history of communal tension, setting aside the differences both Hindus and Muslims are proudly availing the facility and working together effectively for the greater good of the locality.
The data received as of June 26 shows that 27 out of the total 113 patients treated at the facility were Hindus and so far, 32 oxygen cylinders have been put to use.
“We decided now was the best time to revive the original function of a mosque: to serve the community’s social needs. And, since we live in a multi-religious society, it was obligatory for us to keep it open for all. It’s unfortunate that Muslims have turned the mosque into a place of namaz only”, said Mohammed Ali Shaikh, a volunteer of the JIH Bhiwandi chapter and a Ph.D. candidate at Pune University.
In Bhiwandi, the number of total positive cases and fatalities which rendered a total of 395 and 21 respectively on June 12 reached a whopping 1,332 and 88 on June 25. As of June 28, the number spiked to 1740 positive cases and 100 deaths. While 944 patients have been undergoing treatment as of the date, 692 have been discharged. As a result, the civic body was compelled to extend the lockdown in Bhiwandi till July 3.
Amid such a situation the hospitals and already existing Covid-care facilities were already filled with the leaping number of incoming patients. Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the only municipal hospital of the township turned into a Covid-care hospital, has reportedly turned away patients due to the dearth of oxygen supplies and ventilator facilities.
To deal with the disarray, the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation has established a 24 hours disaster management cell (toll-free number 18002331102 and for emergency 02522 250049/02522 232398) for guiding people through the course of diagnosis and treatment.
Through the course of dealing with one of the worst pandemic situations in history, Indians have time and again showcased their humanitarian gestures by lending their relentless support in the fight against Covid-19. Despite existing polarization in society, Makkah Masjid sets the example of transgressing differences in the times of crisis for the sake of humanity.
During the month of Ramadan this year, there have been glistening examples of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine serving Sehri and Iftar to 500 quarantined migrant Muslims and the members of Sikh Community members taking consorted efforts in sanitizing Delhi’s Jama Masjid.
Makkah Masjid yet once again has proved, despite discords, the faith in common humanity can unite people across religions. No matter what!