On duty for10 months, no vaccine yet for Ludhiana rural health officers

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 26

Even as the first round of Covid vaccination was completed in Ludhiana district on Thursday, some rural medical officers (RMO) have been left without a shot.

Till now, 19,502 healthcare workers have been vaccinated in Ludhiana. In Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala, most of the RMOs, pharmacists and Class IV staff have not even been registered for vaccination.

Rural medical officers of Koom Kalan block on Wednesday received a letter, asking for the details of the staff to be vaccinated. While the first phase of vaccination was completed on Thursday, the letter reached the block centre late. The registration on the portal for the first phase of vaccination has been completed. The portal was closed for registration of healthcare workers on February 17.

There are 17 dispensaries in Koom Kalan block with 14 RMOs, besides pharmacists and other staff.

“We never stepped back from our duty and served throughout the pandemic, but it is sad to know that the department forgot us. Asking for the details now when the portal is closed makes no sense,” said an RMO.

In Ludhiana district, there are 62 RMOs posted against 109 posts and since the outbreak of Covid, all rural dispensaries were shut for nearly 10 months. There are 1,186 dispensaries in the state that cater to a population of 10,000.

Dr JP Narula, state president of the Rural Medical Services Association, Punjab, said RMOs had been given step-motherly treatment by the government. “During the Covid spread, they worked in isolation centres and flu corners but when it came to vaccination, the department cared little about them,” he said.

The Health Department registered its staff but ignored rural medical officers, who work under the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat.

“The Health Department had the data of the RMOs as they were assigned Covid duties, but still they were ignored. Appreciation letters were given to the staff of the Health Department but not to RMOs,” he said.

Dr Sukhjeevan Kakkar, Ludhiana Civil Surgeon, said many health workers did not register for inoculation earlier but wanted to get vaccinated now.

“The community health centre in the block is responsible for collecting the data of health workers and send us. As soon as the portal is opened, we will upload their data, so that vaccination can be done,” said Dr Kakkar.