Vaccination drive for 18-44 age group totally inadequate — Congress

Dimapur, May 26 (EMN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Wednesday urged the state government to expedite vaccine procurement and increase vaccination centres in the state, saying that the current vaccination drive for 18-44 age group through a few hundred slots in two days a week is totally inadequate and leaves out marginalised people due to the digital divide.

In a letter addressed to the chief minister of the state, the NPCC suggested several measures that it said should be undertaken on a war footing to alleviate the pandemic situation which the state is battling along with the rest of the country.

The Congress state unit urged the government to increase mass testing (voluntary) especially in vulnerable areas and potential hotspots, provide first aid medicines to those tested positive and “reactivate government quarantine facilities to house visitors from outside, returnees and for those who cannot afford home isolation or paid quarantine facility”.

It suggested strict regulation of entry from outside the state and ensure Covid-19 test upon arrival as well as under quarantine; to provide free rations to all non ration card holders, especially daily wage earners who can’t avail the scheme under PMGKAY; and to announce financial incentive for children who have lost their parents or earning member due to Covid-19.

The party stated that non-Covid hospitals be designated to take care of patients suffering from other ailments, and ensure fair deployment of healthcare workers and resources — equipment and medicine supplies — in all districts in accordance with size and population.

“Nagaland has the largest number of Government employees in terms of population ratio. This can be put to good use by utilising the services of these govt employees in their respective places of posting. This will relieve healthcare workers who have been multitasked in their job so far,” read the letter.

It appealed to the Naga ex-servicemen (ESM) community to lend a helping hand and suggested that MP and MLA LADP funds “be used for procurement of equipment, oxygen, medicines etc. for respective constituencies or districts”. It also stated that experts and scientists should clear suspicion on Covid-19 deaths being raised on social media, with authentic evidences.

The NPCC also reminded that party had earlier expressed its reservation on imposition of lockdown considering the adversely impact on economic life of the people and advocated continuation of classes for students with strict SOP owing to non viability of online education for those from rural areas. It stated the views were shared at a meeting held on April 21 with the State Governor, Chief Minister and other officials.