As part of the Aspirational Districts Collaborative (ADC) program, Piramal Swasthya – a branch of Piramal Foundation focussed on Health care and Nutrition – on Wednesday organised a Covid-19 sensitisation workshop at Dak Bunglow Sopore.
The ADC program was launched by Government of India in 2018 and is implemented by NITI Aayog in 112 aspirational districts. In Jammu & Kashmir, Baramulla and Kupwara are two aspirational districts where this program is run. NITI Aayog has partnered with Piramal Foundation for the effective implementation of ADC program.
The workshop was attended by the top officials of civil administration, including Block Medical Officer, Dr. Asif Ali and Block Development Officer Sopore, Miss. Fehmida Bano and all the Panchayati representatives of Sopore block.
BMO Sopore while delivering his keynote address gave a detailed overview of Covid-19 vaccination and showcased the success achieved in the entire district. “District Baramulla was among the first few districts to achieve 100% first dose and second dose vaccinations,” he said. Giving details about the vaccination in 15-17 age group, he underlined the achievement of “closer to 80% vaccination in the target group”. He urged Panchayati representatives to take teenage vaccination campaign seriously and help the department of health in organising vaccination camps in various villages.
Highlighting the role of PRIs in the exercise, BDO Sopore impressed upon the Panchs and Sarpanchs to “play an active role in encouraging people to take vaccination and adhere to Covid Appropriate Behaviour”. “You are public representatives and you all must lead by example,” she said. She asked all the public representatives to work in close coordination with the health department to vaccinate all teenage children in their respective areas.
Both the officials assured full cooperation to the Piramal Swasthya team, led by Divisional Program Manager, Mr. Narender Lal Joshi, and urged them to conduct more such sensitisation workshops. Mr. Joshi thanked both the officials and PRI members for the participation and gave a detailed brief about the ADC program and role of Piramal Swasthya in helping the district administration improve its health care and nutrition indicators.