Bihar: IMA members adopt villages for awareness about immunisation

PATNA: Doctors under the aegis of Indian Medical Association (IMA) state branch has come forward to boost the ongoing immunisation drive against the Covid pandemic by adopting villages, mobilise people of 18 years and above and also make them aware of Covid appropriate behaviour for saving the humanity.
The IMA state branch in its meeting held on July 4 had decided that each member would adopt at least two villages with an objective to help their people getting immunised and providing other help.
About 20 villages have already been adopted in different districts by Tuesday but the number is likely to cross a thousand mark by the weekend.
IMA national president elect Dr Sahjanand Prasad Singh has adopted three villages in Nalanda. They are Lodipur, Amawan and Jakhaur, while the acting state president Dr Ajay Kumar adopted two—Mahmada in Samastipur and Maner in Patna district. Similarly, Dr Sunil Kumar, secretary, state branch adopted Pokhrawan in Lakhisarai and Jagmal Bigha near Fatuha in Patna.
As there are about 12,000 doctors registered under 104 units functional across the state, the IMA state branch hoped adoption of over 20,000 villages including slums in their periphery for ensuring 100% immunisation at the earliest. Dr Sahjanand, who visited his adopted villages and talked to the people in the last two days said, “We held ‘chaupal’ type meetings and created awareness about vaccines in case of the third wave of the pandemic hitting the state sooner or later".
As many villagers wanted to get the vaccines in the village itself, the IMA in association with the district administration concerned would hold special immunisation camps at the panchayat bhavans or any other government premise very soon, he said..
Dr Sahjanand also gave some oxymeters in these villages and taught some as how to measure oxygen saturation level. “If the oxygen level falls below 90, take it seriously, bring the person to the nearest health facility or even seek help from me anytime,” he said to the villagers.
While many people of Mener village asked Dr Ajay Kumar during his visit on Sunday to hold immunisation camp there, another group of about 50 persons sought a separate camp with Sputnik vaccines and ready to pay the price. “I apoke to the Medanta hospital and they have agreed to hold camp only if the number of seekers of Sputnik shots reached around hundred,” he said.
Dr Ajay said the state had witnessed ragedy and miseries during the second wave and now we do not want its repetition.
IMA secretary Dr Sunil said reports reaching from Motihari, Purnia Muzaffarpur and Gaya said many doctors have started identifying villages for adoption. Some enthusiastic doctors also planned to hold health awareness sessions with people in the villages being adopted by them, he added.