GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR

CHIEF MINISTER’S SECRETARIAT: IMPHAL

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PRESS RELEASE

CM FLAGS OFF COVID VACCINATION EXPRESS; LAUNCHES PROJECT SWARAKSHA

Imphal, October 11, 2021 (DIPR): Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh today flagged off COVID Vaccination Express for Imphal West District from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Health Department, Government of Manipur in a joint initiative with CARE India had taken up the programme to fortify the vaccination rollout in the State. The flagging off the programme was organised by District Administration, Imphal West.

The Chief Minister also launched Project Swaraksha which is brought out by the State in partnership with USAID-NISHTHA/Jhpiego. Under the project, the USAID NISTHA team would mobilise those people who are hesitant to take vaccines and bring them to vaccination centres. Every individual who got vaccinated would be directly paid Rs. 50 per dose under the project.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri N. Biren Singh stated that the State Government in collaboration with CARE India had taken the initiative of COVID Vaccination Express to facilitate doorstep inoculation of COVID Vaccine like that of doorstep delivery of services in Go to Village and Go to Hills missions. He added that 15 vehicles with required medical staff and equipment would visit different places of Imphal West for the vaccination programme. He expressed that more vehicles would come up soon to cover vaccination for Imphal East and other districts of the State.

Stating that the State had not totally overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, though the Total Positivity Rate had come down to single-digit, he urged the public to voluntarily come out and get vaccinated and also refrain from any false information regarding the effect of the vaccine. He maintained that about 97 to 98 per cent of those who succumbed to COVID-19 in the recent past were unvaccinated individuals. Expressing the importance of total vaccination throughout the State to overcome the pandemic, he appealed to the local clubs and social organisations to support the vaccination programme by giving information to the locals who hadn’t been vaccinated so far and encourage them to get vaccinated soon.

The Chief Minister also thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his concern about the State and his initiative to provide free vaccination to every citizen of the Country. He also thanked CARE India and USAID NISHTHA team at Jhpiego for coming up with such a programme and for its support to fight the pandemic.

Education Minister Shri Sorokhaibam Rajen, Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Shri Vungzagin Valte, Advisor to Chief Minister (Health) Dr. Sapam Ranjan, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Shri V. Vumlunmang, Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West Shri Th. Kirankumar and other officials attended the programme among others.

It may be mentioned that COVID Vaccination Express would act as mini camps and have trained health workers to safely vaccinate the people. The vehicles shall reach out to every neighbourhood, door to door and every eligible individual.