Haryana: M3M Foundation―the philanthropic arm of M3M Group, with support from the Health Department, Government of Haryana, launched the ‘Jan Swasthya Chetna Yatra’― an awareness-cum-vaccination campaign under its iMpower programme at Tauru block in Nuh district of Haryana. The campaign which is going to be held between August 12 to 31, 2021, is focused on ramping up vaccination and shedding vaccine-related hesitancy among communities in 64 villages. It also aims to vaccinate more than 4k residents and reach out to over 10k people through the awareness drive to prepare for a possible third wave of coronavirus. The campaign was inaugurated by Dr Surendra Yadav, Chief Medical Officer, Nuh and Dr Payal Kanodia, Trustee, M3M Foundation. Dr Basant Dubey, District Immunization Officer, Nuh, Dr Devendra Solanki, Senior Medical Officer, Tauru and Dr Aishwarya Mahajan, President, M3M Foundation, and other dignitaries also graced the occasion.
During the inaugural event, Dr Payal Kanodia, Trustee, M3M Foundation, said, “It is extremely crucial to safeguard the last person standing in the line to win the war against the pandemic. This campaign will largely benefit the underprivileged sections of society to get vaccinated easily and as early as possible. We are confident that through this awareness drive, we will be able to make people understand the importance of COVID-appropriate behaviours for complete safety. We are extremely thankful to the Health Department, Government of Haryana, and our partners for the valuable support in making this campaign possible.”
600 doses were provided on the first day of the campaign and vaccination is going on smoothly. Over 300 people had already registered themselves a day before the campaign.
People over the age of 18 years are being given the Covishield vaccine. The entire campaign is supported by Aide et Action―an international development organisation and Bal Umang Drishya Sanstha (BUDS).
Dr Surendra Yadav, Chief Medical Officer, Nuh said, “Earlier, the vaccination in this area had been the lowest but the speed of daily vaccination has increased significantly in the last two months. This campaign will give a much-needed boost to it. Our health workers were not able to reach at the village level to answer everyone’s questions, but the plan of this campaign is such that people can now easily ask their questions and doubts related to vaccines. This campaign will create awareness among the people and will also accelerate the vaccination. Since this area is completely rural, this campaign will gain momentum when people will get to know about it. The first vaccination was done in April and beneficiaries who developed fever started avoiding the second dose of the vaccine. Now, together with our health workers, ASHA workers and other social organisations, we can become successful in breaking such misconceptions. The CHC here is newly built with support from M3M Foundation. Undoubtedly, these endeavours will remove the negative thoughts among people about vaccination and they will be more aware of vaccination.”
Under this initiative, M3M Foundation along with its partners is organising a mobilisation drive in villages to make people aware of the importance of vaccination. The main activity is planned at the sub-centre level where volunteers with the help of games like snakes and ladders, fun activities like storytelling, jingles and awareness songs in the local language are making beneficiaries aware of the myths and misinformation related to COVID-19 and vaccines.
M3M Foundation has been actively working for the betterment of society with its efforts in improving health, education, livelihood and environment. During the pandemic, it provided relief to over two lakh people across the country and also ensured medical support to the people of Gurgaon by establishing a COVID Care Centre with the help of district administration. The Foundation believes that positive endeavours like these will greatly help in protecting society against a possible third wave of the coronavirus for overall safety and well-being.
