COVID-19: Amid farming, health workers vaccinate people in paddy fields, pastures

BASHARAT RASHID

Srinagar 06,June: To control the spread of deadly corona-virus, a large number of people were vaccinated in the last two days at several parts of Kashmir valley particularly in paddy fields, pastures and other public places.

On Friday and Saturday, authorities deputed hundreds of teams in various parts of Kashmir, which continued the vaccination process at village/panchayat level, with most of the teams went to vaccinate farmers and other workers in paddy fields and many other places.

Vaccinating people in agricultural fields, pastures and other public places have been giving surprise to everyone, as the health teams were seen out, for the first time, to serve the people here in such a way.

A group of health workers were seen in Pulwama district, who were vaccinating the farmers in their respective agriculture fields, besides making them aware about the importance of Covid-19 vaccination.

The teams also asked the farmers and other people not to pay heed to rumours about the vaccination, and believed that vaccination is the only solution to fight and control the Covid-19 spread.

Mohammad Shafi Dar, a health official while talking to Arising State in Tral sub district has said that he left the health centre at 8:30 AM in the morning and started door to door vaccination along with his team members.

He said , “many people were not available at their homes, due to the ongoing farming season, following which our team reached  the paddy and other fields to vaccinate the people.”

“The motive to reach every place is to ensure  100% vaccination in the area,” Dar added.

Tabasum Ara, another health worker in Pulwama area were seen along with her team, vaccinating elderly people, who were working in the paddy fields on different agricultural assignments.

As per Tabasum, she has vaccinated thousands of people in and around Pulwama district so far, with vaccination process still in progress.

Similarly, health teams continued the vaccination in several other places of Kashmir valley as well, and delivered their duties despite hot weather conditions.

Mukhtar Ahmad Poswal, a local resident told Arising State , “people who need to get COVID19 vaccines they can get the jab at  doorstep now, which is very encouraging for those who do not have transport facility due to prevailing lockdown. Besides, people have to wait in queues to get the vaccination dose, which itself is very dicey keeping in view the fear of contracting disease.”

People in general  have  welcomed this step and appreciated health team for reaching out to  people.

However, there are many people who oppose health department’s step to vaccinate people in the mid of agricultural fields, who  believe that health workers should have also followed the rules or set of sops before getting them vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Virender Singh, a medical officer in Sub District Hospital Tral has said , “people are busy in work these days, due to which teams are reaching to doorsteps to get them vaccinated.”

He said that teams are even going to the orchards to ensure the vaccination of people, and to follow the overall vaccination target.

Singh further said that administration is cooperating with the health department and sought cooperation of people  in making the vaccination process successful.

The Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Baseer ul Haq Chowdary in his tweet has hailed the efforts of the health department who mobilized their teams to reach people at every place especially during this season when farmers are busy in their fields.

The DC praised Nurses and other health care workers who are working on the frontline against COVID-19.

The district Administration has intensified the vaccination campaign and instructed the health department that no stone shall be left unturned until every eligible person gets vaccinated in the district.