VALPOI
Health Minister has suggested that healthcare workers may have to conduct a door-to-door vaccination drive to ensure 100% coverage of all who are 18 years and above in the State.
He was addressing a function at the Valpoi Community Health Centre to honour health workers of Sattari taluka for their work during the Covid pandemic.
“If Goa has to be free from this disease, the vaccination campaign here needs to be 100% successful and it is important that people cooperate in this mission,” he said.
Others present at the function included Director of Health Services Dr Jose D’Sa, State Immunisation Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar, Valpoi Municipal Council Chairperson Sehzain Sheikh, VMC Health Officer Dr Shyam Kanankonkar and Vinod Shinde.
On the occasion, the health minister and other dignitaries felicitated doctors, nurses and about 200 healthcare workers with a bouquet of flowers.
“To ensure 100% coverage of the vaccination drive, healthcare workers may have to visit houses, if needed, and to make efforts to ensure the vaccination campaign is a success,” said the health minister.
He admitted there are some difficulties in implementing the vaccination campaign in rural areas.
“We took many steps to control the disease and we also consulted senior officials in the health department. Despite this, we were criticised and we are not afraid of this criticism,” he said.
Dr Rajendra Borkar appealed to people to fully support the vaccination campaign, while Dr Jose D'Sa, Dr Shyam Kankonkar and Sehzain Sheikh also spoke at the event.
Among those who were felicitated at the function included Dr Shyam Kanankonkar, Dr Pranab Burkule, Dr Abhijit Wadkar, Dr Sankesh Phadte, Dr Amita Naik, Dr Varsha Kerkar, Dr Ashwin Kerkar, Dr Panni Naik, Dr Suraj Prakash, Dr Vijay, Dr Videsh Jalmi, Dr Pramod Bhide, Dr Vaibhav Ghadgil, Dr Sanjay Gavkar, Dr Swati Desai, Dr Diksha Nada, Dr Nitin Shet, Dr Prem, Dr Saikrishna Bharadwaj and Akib Sheikh.
