M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Nov. 18: People of Garu block, situated in Latehar district, trust liquor more than Covid-19 vaccine.
Garu block has a population of 34,000. The people residing here trust liquor more and fear Covid less believing that the Corona pandemic is gone and now there is nothing to be worried about.
But the official sources have informed that this behaviour of the public comes in the way of vaccination drives.
The medical officer-in-charge of the community health centre Garu, Dr Arvind Kumar said that the use of liquor is a very rampant thing in Garu block and people love having a pull of it.
He agreed that there is a feeling among a large bulk of the population that talks of Covid is just a narrative and so they refuse to be in the line for the vaccination.
Garu had a target of 500 vaccinations on Wednesday (November 17) but the administration could finish with 199 vaccinations which come to 40%.
“Our teams work hard to convince people that vaccination is always good for them,” said Dr. Arvind.
He said 22,000 eligibles out of the population of 34,000 are to be vaccinated and so far around 17,000 eligibles have been given their first dose.
About the remaining 5,000 eligibles, Kumar said, “It is quite possible that some of these people might not be here but outside just to earn a living.”
The medical officer had one more interesting issue. It is the presence of the elephants in the Garu block.
“We have asked our ANMs and other health personnel out for the vaccination and are bound to negotiate the jungle routes to be extremely cautious about the elephants,” he said.
According to him, areas like Latu, Kujrum, Laat, Henar are elephant prone, and hence ANMs and other staff know what to do.
“The first don’t is not to be on the bike but in the four-wheeler,” said Dr. Kumar.
On being asked about the vaccination among the pregnant and lactating women, he said, “We take a tab on them when they appear for the antenatal check-up.”
The medical officer said that Sahiyas are also taking track of the eligibles just wasting time and not taking the jab.
