KOLKATA: Addressing healthcare workers at 207 vaccination sites in West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she strongly felt “all people of West Bengal should get vaccines free of cost as early as possible.” The CM also said that if needed, the state will bear the financial burden.
In a virtual-telephonic address to doctors, nurses, hospital support staff, student, auxiliary nurse midwife (ANMs) and ASHA workers who had gathered at these 207 sites, the CM said she has already requested the Centre to supply adequate number of vaccines not only for frontline workers but for all people.
The chief minister said all frontline workers, including healthworkers, police and other field workers, have risked their lives to serve people in this unprecedented crisis.
She said many lost their lives, many have lost the lives of their near and dear ones. Yet, Banerjee said, the healthworkers, police, other frontline workers kept fighting this greatest battle of humanity. The CM said it has been almost a year now and yet the battle goes on. The CM also thanked the ANM and ASHA workers for their tireless efforts.
The programme on Saturday morning was also attended by senior doctors, healthworkers from both private and government hospitals and senior state government officials.
After her address, prominent doctors and frontline healthworkers, who fought the battle valiantly, spoke of their experience and feelings on the day vaccination begins in the state. They included Dr Sukumar Mukherjee, Dr Shantanu Sen, the face of Bengal’s Covid battle Yogiraj Roy, Dr Sishir Naskar of MR Bangur Hospital and a few prominent nurses.