PANAJI
Goa's Health Minister on Friday chaired a meeting of all health officers along with Joint Secretary (Health) Vikas Gaunekar, Dean of Goa Medical College and Hospital Dr SM Bandekar and Health Director Dr Jose D’Sa to chalk out a plan of taking the Covid vaccination drive to the doorsteps of rural hinterlands of the state.
The meeting witnessed deliberations on strategies to mobilize people and about awareness creation stressing on the need to get vaccinated.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the Health Minister stated, “We will take the vaccination drive to each and every panchayat now. We will be taking this vaccination drive to the doorsteps of the people. By activating the vaccination drive at the panchayat level, we hope to inoculate maximum number of eligible beneficiaries.”
With the intention of enhancing the mass vaccination programme, the Health Department has roped in Goa Electronics Ltd to play a role in sending voice messages to people who are eligible and to give out their centre details.
“On a trial basis, during Phase I, we will go to 20 panchayats between April 10 and 12 from 9 am to 5 pm to mobilise people to participate in the vaccination camps. These are panchayats where the infrastructure is there. This is independent of the Tika Utsav. The idea behind conducting these vaccination camps at panchayat level is to penetrate the rural areas.”
Accordingly, the vaccination camps will be hosted on Saturday at Reis Magos, Mandrem, Succour, Warkhandm, Velguem, Loliem and Collem; on Sunday at Pilerne, Penha de Franca, Pirna, Thane in Sattari, Nagargao, Nachinola, Morjim, Narve, Oxel, Merces, Korgao, Pale and Poinguinim and at Parra on Monday.
Health Officers have been given directions about the modalities and the way of approach, the minister stated.
The Health Department, in its bid to cover all industries, is now looking to rope in the Labour Commissioner and other ministries which are directly and indirectly related. Additionally, the Department is also planning to seek permission of the Election Commission to rope in the BLOs to help in reaching out to the people in specific areas and wards.
Speaking about the steep and sudden rise in cases in Goa, the Health Minister said “We have got five cases of the UK strain Goa so far. We had not predicted that Covid-19 would peak again this year. Micro containment zones will be announced soon in areas where the number of cases has risen steeply.”
However, it was clarified that Goa currently has sufficient stock of vaccination with the wastage being 1.25 per cent, much lesser than the national average.
The Health Minister also hinted that the Goa government is likely to make suggestions to the central government to reduce the age for eligibility to 18 and above so that the younger citizens can also get vaccinated. The minister has urged the younger generation of Goans to exercise self control and discipline to help the state control the spread of Covid.
