Hundreds of health care assistants belonging to Muslim community are currently engaged in various hospitals across the country

Minorities belonging to Muslim community are equally shouldering responsibility in India’s fight against the devastating coronavirus. More than 1500 health care assistants, trained under the skill development programme of the Minority Affairs Ministry, are currently engaged in various hospitals and health care centres across the country and are “helping in the treatment of Corona patients.”

In a press statement, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said of the total health care assistants, 50 percent are girls. He also said that more than 2000 other health care assistants will be trained this year by his ministry under one year training programme.

He also informed that 16 Haj Houses across the country have been given to state governments for quarantine and isolation facilities for Corona affected people. Various state governments are utilising the facilities at these Haj Houses according to their needs.

Different waqf boards across the country, according to him, have contributed Rs 51 crore in PM and CM relief funds for Corona pandemic with the support of various religious, social and educational organisations.

Besides, these waqf boards are also distributing food and other essential commodities among the needy.

According to the Union Minister, Aligarh Muslim University has contributed Rs 1.40 crore in “PM-CARES” fund. “AMU Medical College has also arranged 100 beds for treatment of Corona patients. AMU has also arranged Corona tests, more than 9000 tests have been done till now,” he said.

Naqvi further said that quarantine and isolation facilities were arranged at Khwaja Model School and KayadVishramsthali at Ajmer Sharif Dargah for Corona affected people. More than 4500 Jayarin belonging to all religions from across the country were provided food, accommodation and health facilities during lockdown.

These facilities were arranged by Dargah Committee, Dargah Khadims and Sajjada-nashin. The Dargah Committee and its other associated organisations provided facilities worth about Rs 1 crore which also included arrangements to send the people back to their states.

Naqvi said that face masks have been prepared on a large scale under the “Seekho Aur Kamao” skill development programme of his ministry and these masks are being distributed among the needy.

The Minority Affairs Ministry will launch “JaanBhi, Jahan Bhi” awareness campaign to make the people aware of social distancing and other guidelines for safety from Corona.