Kerala: Nipah virus awareness drive on Friday at mosques
Special talks after the ritual sermons were also held in several mosques reiterating to support to the initiatives of the health authorities.
MALAPPURAM: With the deadly Nipah virus scare persisting, the mosques in the district joined the government’s efforts to create awareness among the public on precautionary and preventive measures. On the second Friday of the holy Muslim month of Ramzan, when the devotees attended the weekly congregation en masse, clerics passed on an important message on the public health hazard in the wake of Nipah outbreak.
Friday sermons in several mosques were on the serious health crisis and stressed on the importance of taking precautionary measures as per the instruction of the health authorities to minimise the risks. Special talks after the ritual sermons were also held in several mosques reiterating to support to the initiatives of the health authorities. Imams also appealed to the devotees not to fall prey to false campaigns in social media and stay away from spreading rumours.
“As per the Islamic teachings devotees should take proper treatment for illness and ensure good health,” said Nasheed Faizy, Imam of Juma Masjid at Kottakkal.
The district collector Amit Meena had on Thursday urged mosque authorities to make devotees aware about the situation during Friday congregations and prayers. The collector also issued a set of instructions explaining the preventive measures to them.