Non-vaccinated persons will be deprived of government facilities: Health Minister Keshab Mahanta

A CORRESPONDENT

RANGIA: "If any eligible person does not take COVID vaccine, he will be deprived of government facilities in future. So, collect the information on the basis of the election structure and provide vaccine to all the eligible people of the district and complete this process within September," said State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta on Wedenesday while attending a review meeting held at the office conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district to take stock of the status of vaccination process in Kamrup district.

While discussing about the vaccination process of Kamrup with Deputy Commissioner Kailash Karthik N and the administrative officers of the district and district health department officials, the minister directed them to implement a new strategy to ensure completion of vaccination more quickly and effectively.

The minister also instructed to take up the vaccination process on the basis of the electoral system to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of the eligible persons in the district. He said that the vaccination should be done at polling station level and even door-to-door if required. The BLOs, gaon burhas and Asha Karmis will collect the information from which a proper list for the same will be compiled. The Minister urged to provide training to all concerned immediately and prepare a format incorporating all steps for collecting necessary data so that the new strategy of vaccination can be implemented without delay based on the information collected. For this, the government will ensure availability of vaccines. Till this preparation is done, he asked to continue the existing process of vaccination.

The minister also directed to put appropriate measures in place for COVID test in this mission. Further, the minister asked to keep a 24x7 vaccination system in some places in the district for the benefit of the people. He also said that in view of the opening of schools and colleges, initiative should also be taken to determine suitable locations for vaccination centres in place of educational institutions where there are existing centres.

Attending the meeting, Dr. S. Lakshmanan, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Assam, advised to keep at least 200 to 230 vaccination centres active for the drive to achieve the desired goal. He also said that the employees of one Block Primary Health Centre might be sent to other centres if needed.

At the end of the review meeting, the minister expressed satisfaction over vaccination of more than 3.5 lakh people of Kamrup in the month of August and thanked all involved in the process on behalf of the government. The meeting was attended by Director, Health Department Munindra Nath Ngatey, Chief Minister's OSD Hemanta Chaudhary and Administrative Officer Pomi Baruah.

After the review meeting, the delegates from IIT Guwahati apprised the minister about the School of Health Science &Technology to be taken up under the institute through a PowerPoint presentation. Minister Mahanta appreciated the initiative and said that the Assam Government would extend full cooperation in this regard.

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