Rahul all praise for Old City mosque

Hyderabad: The Helping Hand Foundation (HHF) and Maulana Faiq Khan, a Khateeb of a mosque, received an appreciation letter from All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Rahul Gandhi for the joint collaboration and novel initiative of setting up a Health Care Centre at a Mosque in an urban slum of Old City for all.

“I write to commend the initiative taken by the Masjid-e-lshaq and the NGO HHF to facilitate community health services to 1.5 lakh marginalised people in Hyderabad. 

It is commendable that this initiative will provide information and guidance for admission to more than 30 government hospitals, apart from providing referral link for health services for people”, Rahul Gandhi said in his letter.

Appreciating HHF and Maulana in his letter, AICC chief said, “I salute your resilience and I am confident that you continue to make a positive difference to your region in the field of health care. Best wishes to you and the entire team of HHF for the success of this initiative.”

While talking to The Hans India, HHF president Mujtaba Hassan Askari said that, “We are glad that a leader of national stature has appreciated it, whereas no local leaders, especially from minorities, have said nothing. Rahul Gandhi’s appreciation is definitely a source of inspiration”.

It may be mentioned here that a Masjid in Achireddy Nagar, Nawab Saheb Kunta, a slum in Old City was opened for health centre for all, regardless of caste, creed or religion.  

The Community Health Centre which was started earlier this month at Masjid Ishaq will cater to a population of roughly 1.5 lakh from the adjoining areas of Vattepally, Chasma, Mustafanagar, PahadiGuntal Shah Baba, Tekri Biryani Shah, TeegalKunta, Jahanuma, Tadbun and Fatimangar.

This centre also serves as a referral link to 30 plus hospitals, which include State run hospitals, where the HHF operates its services, right from primary to tertiary care in the city of Hyderabad. 

“With abysmally low foot fall in government hospitals from the slums, our idea is to increase foot fall of economically backward sections in State hospitals by way of facilitation and by virtue of our large network with over 100 volunteers, we can assure the patient of prompt, ethical and free treatment,” Askari said.

 Maulana Faiq Khan, the Khateeb of the Masjid, said that, “We were keen to setup the health centre at the masjid that will be a source of Allah’s mercy to 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”.