A British mosque has been turned into a makeshift hospice for COVID-19 patients to help free up beds in nearby hospitals.
The Masjid E Ghosia mosque in Deane, in the town of Bolton in the UK, has been vacated following containment measures introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but members have decided to use the building to help the local community.
The plans were put forwards by Dr Mohammed Jiva MBE with the support of Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE, Dr Sharif Uddin, and Dr Rauf Munshi, according to reports.
Dr Jiva said the mosque will help deliver care for COVID-19 patients as well as offer a respite to overwhelmed hospitals in the area.
He said the first patients are expected to arrive in the makeshift hospice in two weeks, adding that there is still a lot of work to be done get it ready for healthcare practices.
Dr Jiva commented: “About a month ago the mosque asked me for advice on how to deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and it became clear it needed to be locked down.
“I said ‘why don’t we give something back to the community’.
“The response so far has been fantastic. I have already had 50 to 60 volunteers put themselves forward, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
Dr Jiva plans to have up to 55 beds set up in the mosque to help hospitals. He also said that community members can bring loved ones who they feel aren’t being properly cared for at home.
The Bolton Council of Mosques is also reportedly supporting the initiative.
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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