OLD GOA
Concerned with the low turnout of residents from Indira Nagar locality of Chimbel for the Covid vaccination, the Chimbel panchayat and Chimbel Primary Health Centre (PHC) has decided to rope in religious leaders to encourage residents to get vaccinated.
Speaking at the meeting of Chimbel Village Health, Nutrition and Sanitation Committee in the panchayat on Friday, Chimbel PHC Medical Officer Dr Jude D’Souza expressed concern that residents of Indira Nagar are reluctant to get vaccinated and sought advice on how to motivate the residents for the vaccination.
Some participants at the meeting suggested that religious leaders from the locality be roped in to convince residents to get vaccinated and also to allay the fears in their minds created due to misinformation.
“There is a lot of misinformation floating in Indira Nagar through social media, due to which the residents are reluctant to get vaccinated. It is important that religious leaders of different communities in the locality be roped in to allay the fears created through such misinformation,” suggested one participant at the meeting.
It was also suggested that an awareness drive should also be conducted in the locality in company of prominent leaders from Indira Nagar to spread information about the importance of vaccination to get safety from Covid.
“In such drive, the Chimbel PHC MO along with the local MLA, sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and panchas should also participate,” it was suggested.
In light of the suggestions, it was decided to first hold a meeting of various religious leaders in the panchayat to seek their help in spreading the message of the importance of vaccination.
It was also decided that after the meeting, a programme will be chalked out to create awareness on vaccination among the residents of Indira Nagar.
Meanwhile, the Chimbel PHC has decided to shift the vaccination venue close to Indira Nagar locality and from Monday, the same will be moved to the Kirlawada school. Currently, the vaccination is done at the premises of the Old Age Home.
The PHC authorities are hopeful that the move would help get more residents from Indira Nagar for vaccination.
