In a first, a city mosque in Vattepally is now accommodating a primary health centre in a working-class dominated area of the Old City of Hyderabad. The Masjid-e-Ishaq will have a full-fledged primary health centre managed by a team of paramedics and doctors.
The initiative of the masjid committee and the Helping Hand Foundation will ensure that about roughly 1.5 lakh population in the area got access to primary health care.
The centre has come up on 1,000 square feet area on the ground floor of the Masjid-e-Ishaq. It is for the first time any masjid has offered such a huge space for such a facility. Meanwhile, the remaining two upper floors of the mosque will be used for offering prayers and other religious activity. “The primary health centre will provide referral link to State hospitals.
Likewise, basic primary and home care including free diagnostics, vitals, performing CPR, Wound Management, Maternal Care and Physiotherapy too will be offered,” said Mujtaba Hasan Askari of Helping Hand Foundation.
Maulana Faiq Khan, the Khatib of the Majid Ishaq said, “We were keen to set up the health centre from our masjid that will be a source of Allah’s mercy for hundreds of poor people in the slums and we are glad that Allah’s house is being used for a good cause regardless of religion and faith,” he said.
The centre will help people living in the areas of Vatapally, Chasma, Mustafanagar, Pahadi Guntal Shah Baba, Tekri Biryani Shah,Teegal Kunta, Jahanuma, Tadbun and Fatima Nagar.
“We plan to set up more such centres after getting space in various mosques. There are several masjids which are spacious and willing to provide space for such a facility,” said Askari. He added that the initiative would help many patients from slums who cannot afford to travel to government hospitals.
“We aim to provide free transport to patients on a daily basis and guide them to the right hospital depending upon their ailments. If the need arises, we will take help of our donors for the treatment of people in private hospitals,” he added. #KhabarLive
