Itanagar, Nov 9 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang on Tuesday urged the faith-based leaders and other community influencers of the state to support the state government in accelerating the COVID-19 vaccination in order to achieve 100 per cent vaccine coverage.
The Minister was speaking to the representatives of ‘All Christian Forum’, Jama Masjid, Gorkha Welfare Association, Donyi Polo faith believers, Shiv Mandir Trust and SHGs from various districts in a virtual meeting, official sources said.
Libang appreciated the religious leaders’ enthusiasm and hoped that the COVID-19 vaccination percentage would definitely improve with their participation in the drive.
Earlier, NHM Mission Director C R Khampa, in his address, presented COVID-19 vaccination status of the state.
He informed that as on November 8, 2021, altogether 7,79,925 (77 percent) out of the total of 10,09,000 adult populations of the state have been administered the first dose of the vaccine and 5,59,976 (55 percent) have received both doses of anti-COVID vaccine since the launch of the countrywide inoculation drive in January last.
“The state needs to improve COVID-19 vaccination coverage to hundred percent,” he emphatically said and exuded hope that the faith-based leaders would play a major role in motivating beneficiaries to take both doses of the vaccine.
State Immunization Officer Dr Dimong Padung clarified the queries of faith-based leaders related to COVID-19 vaccination. He further appealed to them to support the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign.
It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently held a review meeting with over 40 districts having low vaccination coverage including those with less than 50 percent coverage of the first dose and low coverage of the second dose. The PM besides calling for widening the inoculation drive by maximising community engagement through religious leaders had asked to go in the spirit of ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ – knocking on every doorstep to ensure full vaccination.
Arunachal Pradesh has identified six districts having less than 50 percent coverage of the first dose and subsequently adopted ‘Har Ghar Dastak Cluster approach’, under which a robust micro plan is being prepared by each district for every circle to attain the vaccination target, the official sources had said.
