Many mosques in Mumbai and the suburbs have stepped forward to offer free oxygen cylinders to COVID-19 patients in an effort to aid the fight against coronavirus. This service is also provided for COVID-19 patients at home, whose oxygen level is very low.
As cases continue to soar in the city, mosques have taken this initiative to share the load with hospitals and take some pressure off them. The free oxygen cylinders come with kits that can be easily fitted at home for coronavirus patients whose oxygen saturation level is low.
According to a report by the Times of India, oxygen cylinders are being provided by several mosques in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including the city, Mumbra, Mira Road, Kalyan and Bhiwandi. The step is initiated by the NGO Red Crescent Society of India.
Talking about this work, Arshad Siddiqui, chairman, Red Crescent Society of India said that since not all 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.
As the surge in cases leads to increased demands for oxygen cylinders, Siddique said they might not be able to meet it. But as long as the supply allows them to, he says they are committed to the cause.
“This is the house of God, a holy place, and we think good work should start from a holy place. We are getting requests from all communities,” said Siddiqui. His NGO had earlier come forward to help earthquake victims in the tsunami and refugee camps of the Rohingya in Bangladesh.
"A thousand cylinders have been distributed so far. Many people are dying due to a lack of oxygen in time. I have seen patients being sent back home or shifted to different hospitals due to lack of oxygen. An adequate supply of oxygen can save many lives," Azimuddin said.
Hospitals are being given priority to supply oxygen. But it is also important that oxygen is made available to NGOs working to alleviate people's suffering, he concluded.
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