With religious places currently shut for public due to the ongoing lockdown, many temples, churches, gurdwaras and mosques have offered their premises to be converted to vaccination centres, thus helping the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in achieving its target of having a vaccination centre in each ward.
Mumbai’s St Michael church and Shri Swaminarayan temple have offered their premises to be used as Covid-19 vaccination centres. The 160-year-old Madhav Baug Temple compound at CP Tank Road has been converted into a vaccination center by the BMC. In a temple premises, the wedding hall has been converted into a vaccination center, and the BMC provides 100 vaccines to this center daily. In this center, 500 people can take vaccines daily.
Atul Shah, a BMC corporator, said: “This is the only vaccination centre in the entire Mumbai where we check antigen, oxygen level and temperature of people who come to take vaccines. We want to make sure that the person is not suffering from Covid symptoms; in this way, we are trying to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We also make sure that people who take vaccines sit and relax in the centre for half an hour. We provide them tea, coffee and biscuits too.”
The St Michael church in Mahim and the Shri Swaminarayan temple in Mahalaxmi West have allowed the BMC to set up vaccination centres at their premises for the 45 plus age group with registration.
Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner G-north ward, said, “We were looking to open an additional vaccination centre for Mahim at that time; the church [St Michael] authorities came forward and allowed us this space for at least six months. Around 500-600 people can be vaccinated at this centre in a day.”
On the other hand, Uday Lad, PRO, Swaminarayan temple, said, “We have allowed the vaccination centre to help the local authorities. We will allow the centre to function for as long as they want.”
Several gurdwaras and mosques have also been converted to vaccination centres. In Mumbai’s famous Mohammed Ali Road, the Mohammedi Masjid complex, belonging to the Dawoodi Bohra community, has been turned into a vaccination centre. Even the Mumbai Juma Masjid has been converted into a vaccination centre.