This Hyderabad mosque operates as a health center

In a first, a mosque in Hyderabad has been turned into a health center for people of all religions.

The Masjid-e-Ishaq mosque is providing healthcare facilities to slum dwellers in the vicinity, irrespective of their religion, with the help of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) named Helping Hand Foundation (HHF).

Speaking to ANI, Mujtaba Askari, the Managing Trustee of HHF, said that they were very particular while choosing the area in which the health care center is to be set up, as they wanted it to be in the heart of the slum so that the poor can get the maximum benefit.

"The mosque is surrounded by around nine slum areas and the population of the area would be more than 1.5 lakhs. The main concept behind this is that we want to treat the patients who are unaware to different government health centers," Askari said.

He further informed that the initiative has gained a positive response and around 40 to 50 people avail treatment every day.

Transport facilities are also being provided to the poor if required.

"Working in the health sector for the last 13 years, we're spread across 30 hospitals and have our voluntary support staff working there. We study patients and based on their health needs, send them to hospitals. We arrange their transport and bear expenses," said Fareed, the manager of the NGO.