A businessman, Qadir Shaikh, has decided to set up an 85 beds Covid-19 facility to provide free treatment for the poor after he recovered from the novel coronavirus. He has converted his 30,000 square feet office space into an 85 beds Covid-19 hospital with oxygen facilities in Gujarat’s Surat city.
Talking to The Indian Express (IE), Shaikh said, “This hospital is for everyone, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth… I also faced financial problems in earlier days and I worked hard… now I am financially sound. So I thought of lending a helping hand to the needy during this global pandemic… My three sons and I have always helped poor people… Now I felt I should do something more… Hence the hospital”
Shaikh signed an agreement with the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to supply medical staff and equipment at the facility with 15 ICU beds in Surat’s Adajan area. Surat Municipal Commissioner BN Pani and SMC Deputy Health Commissioner Dr Ashish Naik visited the premises and approved the proposal, IE reported.
Shaikh has named the facility after his granddaughter as Hiba Hospital. This has become ready and it was visited by SMC health department authorities on Tuesday. Dr Naik was quoted by IE, “We have seen the premises and found it appropriate. In the next few days, the hospital will start functioning with patients referred from New Civil hospital and SMIMER hospital”
The Surat Islam Yatim Khana Society has also written a letter to the district administration and municipal authorities seeking permission to start a Covid-19 hospital where mild to moderately symptomatic patients can be treated. The society had earlier started a quarantine centre on their premises and now with the help of an NGO, they want to start a dedicated Covid -19 hospital. On Monday, a team from the SMC and the district administration visited the campus and gave approval to the project.
