MLA and DC launch massive awareness drive in rural pockets to arrest Covid-19 spread

Ludhiana: As the deadly second wave of Covid-19 is now gripping rural hinterland, Ludhiana Central MLA Surinder Dawar and Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma on Tuesday launched a massive awareness drive in villages to contain the raging pandemic by making people conscious about the importance of contacting doctor immediately in case of any symptom besides maintaining two-yard distancing as well as hand hygiene. 

Joining the virtual launch of the massive awareness campaign under Mission Fateh by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, MLA, and DC accompanied by PYDB Chairman Sukhwinder Singh Bindra, ADC Development Sandeep Kumar directed the rural development and Panchayats & Helarh Department to work in tandem in this tough time. The officers of both departments have been instructed to remain in touch with sarpanches, panches, GoGs, religious leaders, school teachers, Anganwari, ASHA workers, volunteers of National Service Scheme, village-level youth clubs, and red-ribbon clubs in this battle against the pandemic.

They said the late reporting by the patients is worrisome as rural people prefer self-medication and take the symptoms lightly which later lead to serious condition.

They said that this campaign would help to identify the cases at the primary stage and breaking the transmission chain by isolating infected persons earliest. They said delayed diagnosis of patients was the main cause of increased mortality.

They asserted that these joint teams of volunteers would act as ambassadors for carrying forward the message of early testing and treatment besides ensuring vaccination of the eligible by dispelling myths and misinformation. 

They stated that teams could play a decisive role in ensuring Punjab’s victory in its war against the pandemic by educating the people to obey protocols including masking, washing hands, and practicing social distancing in their daily routine.

MLA and Deputy Commissioner told that these teams can play a significant role in this drive as only alertness can help for keeping the Covid-19 pandemic under check in all 947 villages of Ludhiana. 

Prominent among present on the occasion included Punjab Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation (Backfinco) vice-chairman Mohd Gulab, DDPO Sanjiv Sharma, and others.