By Matters India Reporter

Varanasi: Catholic religious of Varanasi have collaborated with people of other faiths to open a series of temporary health centers in northern Indian city and villages surrounding it to fight Covid 19 pandemic.

The seventh center was inaugurated on June 3 in a classroom of St. Joseph’s School in Shivpur suburb of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh state.

The center is a joint venture of Vishwa Jyoti Communications, the media communication wing of the Indian Missionary Society, and Sisters of Our Lady of Providence (OLP). Sister Sheela Jacob, the OLP’s India provincial, opened the center and Father Ranjit Thomas said blessed the classroom, converted into a temporary health center. It will run for 45 days for the poor people in nearby slums and poor colonies.

Vishwa Jyoti Communications director Father Anand Mathew said they have already set up six centers in six villages in various developmental blocks of Varanasi two weeks ago.

Providence Provincial Sister Sheela Jacob opens the clinic
Nandlal Master, a Hindu who leads the campaign along with Father Mathew, said that each center attracts from 50 to 100 patients daily. Although the number of serious Covid patients has reduced, the centers continue to receive many with mild Covid symptoms.

He also said the rapid changes in the weather in the past two weeks have caused seasonal illnesses that reduced people’s immunity, making them vulnerable to coronavirus infection.

The seven centers are run with the support of Caritas India. In the St. Joseph’s School center, Doctor Manoj Upadhyay has volunteered to serve the patients along with OLP nurses Sisters Rosy Pramila from 9 a.m. to 12 noon daily.

On June 3, the Catholic religious launched mobile health service in the premises of a Hindu temple in Ganeshpur village.

The month-long mobile health camp will visit one new village every day. On the first day, in the camp at Ganeshpur village, 52 patients benefitted form the medical services. The camps are being held from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Doctor Anil Kumar Singh along with VIsmaya Raj, a final year BSc Nursing student, treated the patients. They were assisted by Providence Sisters Vineeta and Rajani, social activists and their helpers.

The artistes of Prerna Kala Manch visit each village in advance to invite people to attend the camp. They also distribute masks and literature on Covid precautions.

On July t4 he camp was held on the floor of Chandrika Hindu temple in Suddhipur village.

Providence Sister Vineeta said they conduct the camps mostly in Hindu temple premises, which can be easily accessed by the poor people of all faiths.

The temples “are mostly in the most prominent spot of the village,” she told Matters India.

Fransalian Father Benedict D’Souza, the president of the local unit of the Conference of Religious India, expressed happiness over the ministry and commended the Providence sisters for opening their school for “this most timely ministry, which is a perfect model for other religious to follow.”