Covid-19 is a crisis that threatened human health on an unprecedented scale, attempting to undo progress made globally and nationally. Despite the trials and tribulations of the pandemic, the indefatigable spirit of our frontline workers and the scientific community has shown the way forward, a testimony to the inherent ‘jazba’ (belief) of India’s ‘Atma Nirbharta’. I am sure we will continue fighting against this virus with the same feeling of love for ‘Bharat Mata’ to ensure the ‘surakasha’ (safety) of our fellow citizens.
We are grateful to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reigniting this spirit and encouraging innovation and out of the box solutions to tackle the pandemic. The indigenous development and manufacturing of vaccines in record time showcased, yet again, the potential of India’s human resource and our scientific caliber. These rapid strides and the compassionate leadership of PM Narendra Modi to ensure free vaccine supplies helped such a large population get inoculated.
Successful implementation of a program of such scale requires decisive political & executive leadership and the relentless efforts of the citizens. It is a fitting tribute to the leadership of PM Modi and the efforts of the frontline workers that the nation has surpassed the number of 1.5 billion vaccine doses administered, days before the first anniversary of our vaccination program, setting a world record of 2.5 crore+ vaccinations in a day in the process.
With the Prime Minister’s guidance and support through vaccine adequacy, Madhya Pradesh is playing its part in getting people vaccinated in large numbers. However, this was not without its share of challenges. The task was difficult not only because we had to vaccinate a large number scattered over a large area but also because we had to alleviate the fear of people with the assurance of their sound health. To set aside aspersions, we decided to promote citizen participation for our goal of successful vaccination. For this, we tapped our existing network of crisis management committees and sought the support of community influencers such as religious leaders, business associations, teachers, patwaris (local record keepers) and heads of self-help groups to run a ‘jan jagrukta andolan’ on vaccination.
To reduce vaccine hesitancy, the administration took up several initiatives like vaccinating ASHA workers, ANMs and Anganwadi workers who in turn instilled confidence in the vaccine among locals. The administration started traditional ‘khatla baithaks’ (cot meetings) with people living in rural areas to allay fears and dispel rumors. Vaccination camps were ramped up with quality training for the deputed staff to ensure seamless coverage and a hassle-free experience for the participants.
At the same time, youth constituents were roped in to increase awareness among their families and among people in their vicinity as part of the ‘Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti’ campaign. Their role as powerful motivators and brand ambassadors under the ‘Sathiya’ campaign was commendable as it helped turn the tide in favor of vaccination in tribal areas.
Taking inspiration from the elections, a series of ‘Teekakaran Maha Abhiyans’ were planned in different phases to make vaccination in the state a festival of ‘janbhagidari.’ Kicked off on June 21, the campaign was a resounding success thanks to enthusiastic participation from my fellow citizens, with vaccines administered to over 16.41 lakh people on International Yoga Day.
Seeing pictures of people standing in queues, following Covid protocols, flashed along with vaccination numbers, encouraged more people to get vaccinated in subsequent campaigns, akin to high polling turnouts. Today, over 96% of the adult population in Madhya Pradesh is vaccinated with the first dose.
However, a peculiar challenge emerged. After the first dose, the vaccination rate slumped as beneficiaries were less concerned with the number of cases declining significantly. Following this, the administration kick-started an outreach campaign with the goal of ‘Koi Naa Chhute’, reaching out to the eligible population for the second dose. Beneficiaries were traced and vaccination drives became more focused with door-to-door vaccination drives.
Driven by the strength of our conviction and ‘janbhagidari’, I am proud to say that we have taken a giant step towards ensuring ‘logo ki suraksha’ (safety of the people) by administering 10 crore+ doses, administering the second dose to over 92% of our eligible adult population as of now.
Children are the cornerstone of new India. Provision of the vaccines for them in such a short span is an ode to the persevering efforts of the scientific community and the unflinching support of PM Modi. Vaccination of children, eligible elders, and frontline workers is being carried out in mission mode in Madhya Pradesh, with more than 70% of the eligible children- 15 to 18 years of age – getting vaccinated as of now. Additionally, more than 1 lakh 80 thousand people have been administered precaution doses of vaccines till now, with about 30% of the eligible population vaccinated in this category.
As we proceed towards complete vaccination for everyone, I am filled with gratitude upon recollecting the efforts of countless citizens in making India and Madhya Pradesh Covid-secure, in line with our Prime Minister’s vision. I am glad that Madhya Pradesh is playing an active part in this ‘mahayagya’ that will inspire the coming generations.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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