Nagpur: Dr Sangita Khandait Balkote, in-charge of the NMC’s Pachpaoli Sutika Gruha (women’s hospital), underlining her emotion said it’s a day to serve Covid warriors who were at the forefront of the battle against the virus as the historic vaccination programme began nationwide on Saturday.
Out of the 100 slated to get the Covidshield vaccines, 59 turned up on day one till 5pm at the
Pachpaoli centre. The drive would now resume at 9am on Monday at the centre which wore a festive look with rangolis, balloons and flowers.
Amid an overwhelming moment, health officials reminded the masses and also their beneficiary colleagues to follow Covid norms of social distancing, wearing masks and sanitization despite kicking off the immunization drive.
Dr Dipankar Bhivgade, zonal medical officer of Ashinagar zone, who was the first to get the shot followed by Dr Balkote and others, turned nostalgic recalling the early days of his fight against the Covid. “We used to be apprehensive regarding Covid while engaging in contact tracing, quarantining and getting someone admitted,” said the alumni of Government Ayurvedic College who joined NMC after passing out in 2004.
He also fondly shared how his wife, Dr Smita, and seven-year-old daughter Maulya were concerned throughout the day but egged him on to take the shot.
“Today, we are feeling much safer after getting the dose. Covid warriors should come forward to take the shot. It’s safe. I did not experience any issues after taking it,” he said.
Dr Bhivgade reminded citizens that following Covid norms still remains a top priority.
Dr Vaishali Mohkar, reproductive and child health officer (RCH) with NMC, who was the third to get the shot, said she had performed caesarean deliveries of Covid mothers safely. “We feel elated,” she said. “We should now remain focused on Covid behaviour and norms too,” she added.
The NMC is learnt to have hand-picked jabbers at every centre, including Pachpaoli, where Rajni Meshram and Rajashree Fule administered the first dose. The young nurses, with five years of experience, were overwhelmed by the occasion. “We have been groomed in counselling, administering the dose and also packaging the vaccine as per the laid down norms,” said Meshram. “Our team (first jabbers) is already into immunization drives for other diseases,” she added.
The centre spared three pregnant women from turning up for the vaccine dose. Around 10 claimed to be out of town while a couple of them had symptoms.