Suggest Improving Infrastructure Facilities for Children’s Treatment Considering Possibility of Anticipated 3rd Wave
Port Blair, May 31: The Non-Gazetted Government Officers’ Association, A&N Islands has welcomed and appreciated the decision of the A & N Administration to extend free vaccination to all Islanders of the age group 18-44. In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor of the Islands and Chief Secretary the General Secretary of the Association Shri T S Sreekumar demanded speeding up of the ongoing vaccination drive. The Association pointed out that on an average only 600 citizens of the age group 18-44 have been vaccinated in the Islands on every day from the commencement vaccination to this group on 19th May, 2021 and expressed concern over tardy progress of the vaccination drive. Since vaccination is the only remedy, as of now, against the pandemic Covid–19, the Association requested the Administration to pursue Government of India for larger allotment vaccine doses to complete the vaccination drive at the earliest.
The Association also demanded introduction of priority vaccination to all vulnerable groups of the age 18-44 for better containment of the pandemic. Most of the states in mainland are giving preference to certain groups considering their vulnerability and chance of infection to others. In these Islands such a priority is required for Government employees, Disabled individuals and bedridden patients, Children studying in mainland institutions, Shop owners and staff of essential commodities, Vendors of Fish and vegetables, Drivers of essential services /supplies, Staff of petrol pumps and gas agency, Journalists and newspaper boys, Staff of AIR, DD and BSNL, etc.
The Association also invited the attention of the authorities to the warning issued by various authorities including Govt. of India regard to a possible 3rd wave of Covid-19 and asked the administration to do all preparations to face any such eventualities. The necessity to improve infrastructural facilities for children’s treatment in the hospitals of the territory was also pointed out in the letter considering the possibility of vulnerability of children during the anticipated 3rd wave.