Covid-19 surge in Porvorim, but few take vaccine at Salvador do Mundo

PORVORIM
Even as Covid cases recorded by the Porvorim Primary Health Centre (PHC) shot up to 589 on Friday, the vaccination drive conducted by the Salvador do Mundo Panchayat did not evoke much response and this has led Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte to accuse the BJP of ‘Covid Politics’.

During a vaccination drive conducted by the Salvador do Mundo Panchayat in association with the Porvorim PHC, only 142 people took the Covid vaccine on Friday.

Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte visited the Salvador do Panchayat on Friday and held discussions with Porvorim PHC Health Officer Dr Vikas Naik and panchayat members to ensure that the vaccination drive went on smoothly.

Later speaking to media persons, Khaunte accused the BJP of politicising the Covid vaccination camps.

“While the Salvador do Mundo panchayat conducted the vaccine camp on Friday, it is learnt that just a few metres away, BJP’s local unit is planning another camp within a few days. This is not fair as BJP leaders should have joined hands with the local panchayat rather than trying to hold another camp,” said Khaunte.

“The State government is busy diverting public attention regarding rising Covid cases in the State through the ‘Tika Utsav’ initiative. Repeated pleas to the State government to impose restrictions on account of a surge in Covid cases have fallen on deaf ears. There is a need to break the Covid chain.”

“While the Central government’s initiative is a welcome step as more people will be vaccinated, attempts by BJP to take political mileage out of it is deplorable. An impression is being created that the vaccines are provided by BJP, while in reality, it is a central government-sponsored programme where funds are provided by the taxpayers.”

“The state government, cutting across political lines, should involve the local panchayats and panch members in the ‘Tika Utsav’ rather than making it look like a BJP Mandal activity,” said Khaunte.

The Porvorim MLA voiced concern over the rising Covid cases in the State.

“The new Super Speciality Block at GMC which is ready for inauguration should be dedicated to Covid-19 treatment,” said Khaunte.