‘Backward’ Siddharth Nagar, Balrampur take the lead
LUCKNOW : The two backward districts of Uttar Pradesh, Siddharth Nagar and Balrampur, have bagged the top position with maximum turnout in Covid vaccination even as urban hubs like Lucknow, Agra, Prayagraj and Varanasi, which have better logistics and health infrastructure, lagged behind.
On Friday (January 29) Balrampur recorded 105.29% turnout of the beneficiaries whereas Siddharth Nagar recorded 98.69%. With the launch of Covid vaccination drive on January 16, Siddharth Nagar established the lead over the remaining 74 districts, recording turnout above 95% in consecutive vaccination rounds held on January 22 and 28.
Balrampur district that recorded 87% turnout in the first Covid vaccination round held on January 16 picked up from the second round to emerge as the number one district in terms of vaccination. In the second round held on January 22, the district recorded 98% turnout while 99.07% turnout was recorded in the third round on January 28.
Interestingly, both Siddharth Nagar and Balrampur are categorized as aspirational districts by the NITI Ayog for the poor socio- economic indicators. The central government has launched the Aspiration District Programme (ADP) in both the districts for the improvement of health, education, agriculture and basic infrastructure facilities.
Chief medical officer (CMO), Balrampur, Dr VB Singh said with the district located in the terai region near the Nepal border, most health centres were in far flung areas. In the remote areas, the Internet service was not functional, yet the district health department managed to contact all the beneficiaries on schedule and informed them about the Covid vaccination dates, he said.
“In the first round, when Balrampur failed to register in the list of the top five districts, we took it as a challenge to emerge topper with maximum number of the health workers vaccinated. The medical officer in-charge of the primary health centres and community health
BALRAMPUR RECORDED 105.29% TURNOUT OF THE BENEFICIARIES WHEREAS SIDDHARTH NAGAR RECORDED 98.69%.
centres worked late in the night to upload the names of the beneficiaries. In the morning the teams moved across the district to contact the beneficiaries, to remove their doubts and enlighten them about the benefits of the vaccine,” he said.
“The health department worked in coordination with the revenue, police, child development and panchayati raj department employees to mobilize the beneficiaries. We also took assistance of the Indian Medical Association and Nursing Home Association to motivate the health workers,” Dr Singh said.
In Siddharth Nagar district too, the district health department contacted each beneficiary whose name was uploaded on the Co-WIN portal for vaccination.
The medical officers posted in the remote health centres were contacted and trained on Zoom webinar services .All the ASHA workers and ANMs were contacted. Regular feedback was collected from the health centers to ensure presence of beneficiaries on the vaccination day, said Dr IV Vishwakarma, CMO, Siddharth Nagar.
In the first round, the district recorded 99% turnout, 96% in the second and 98.32% in the third vaccination round.
The district health department also established a control-room to contact the beneficiaries and address the problems faced post vaccination. It sent a good message to motivate others for vaccination, he said.
Director general, medical health, UP, Dr DS Negi said the medical officers of the backward districts, including Balrampur and Siddharth Nagar worked well to mobilize the beneficiaries despite meagre resources.
The state health department was working to improve the turnout in other districts as well, he said.
“We are also planning to launch mop round for the vaccination of all the health workers after fifth and sixth round to be held on February 4 and 5 to ensure that all the health workers get Covid vaccine dose in the state,” he said.