With NMC nod, NCI runs vax camp with BJP

Nagpur: In contravention of guidelines set by the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) issued a no objection certificate allowing the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — a private hospital — to run a Covid vaccination camp at the New English High School playground in Congress Nagar.
Former CM Devendra Fadnavis, who is the area’s MLA, inaugurated the centre on June 26. Going against the spirit of the NOC, the BJP’s South-West Nagpur unit is registering new voters while running the vaccination camp.
A visit to the centre, which was meant specially for those between 18 and 30, revealed violation of rules that have to be observed while running a vaccination centre. Covid-19 guidelines like social distancing, wearing mask etc too were not being followed.
As per ministry guidelines, a private hospital can do vaccination at its centre or workplace of private corporate companies or industries. Inoculation can also be done at schools/colleges, housing societies, old age home, community centres etc but only for the elderly and differently abled person.
An NMC official told TOI that the NCI procured doses of Covishield directly from Serum Institute of India (SII). “The hospital, which had authorisation to vaccinate at its Jamtha hospital, applied for permission to inoculate eligible people at the school. Hence, an NOC was issued.”
At the school, NCI staff is administering doses to beneficiaries in two classrooms converted into vaccination rooms.
BJP activists can be seen guiding people, collecting documents, doing registration etc. Flags and banners of BJP with photos of PM Narendra Modi, city MP Nitin Gadkari and MLA Devendra Fadnavis have been put up from the school entrance to the classrooms.
A counter has been set for registration of new voters right inside a shamiana which serves as the vaccination centre. Seated on the stage are BJP netas without masks. The large number of people gathered near the shamiana for registration and vaccination were not following Covid distancing.
NMC additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi told TOI that the NOC was issued to NCI and not to any political party. “I will have to check about distancing and other conditions being followed,” he said.
NCI director Shailesh Joglekar said the school was chosen as a centre so that more people can be vaccinated. “We are keen to vaccinate as many people as possible. We have organised the camp along with NGO Sevankur,” he added.
Joglekar did not comment on BJP’s active participation in the camp.
Corporator and president of BJP South-West Nagpur Kishor Wankhede said the party is “doing the vaccination with the help of NCI”. On Covid violation, Wankhede said as the camp is getting a huge response, “it difficult to comply with the guidelines”. “We had planned a camp for 18-30s but people from all age groups are thronging the centre,” he added.
Congress corporator Praful Gudadhe said BJP “doing politics on vaccination was unfortunate”. “The party should ensure sufficient stock and inoculate all through NMC. NCI should procure doses for all eligible people of the city and hand it over to the NMC. What they are doing now is trying to get political mileage from vaccination and pandemic,” he said.