Red Cross vaccine initiative gets thumbs-up from NRIs
Mangaluru, June 06, 2021: The vaccination camp held in Mangaluru on Sunday was a unique initiative by the district administration and the Indian Red Cross society.
While the government has listed those going abroad for jobs and studies in the priority group, the Dakshina Kannada administration and Red Cross Society went a step ahead by organizing an exclusive camp for them at Canara Girls High School, Dongerkeri today.
As many as 402 NRIs including some students and 43 frontline workers were vaccinated at the camp.
The district administration had asked those going abroad for studies and jobs to apply to the Red Cross Society. As many as 1,400 had applied on the google form.
“The number of applicants is increasing. After scrutinizing each application we had finalized 500 names and called them to attend the camp today. Everything was done very professionally. We had also invited the airlines people so that they can scrutinize the documents properly and allow only those with proper documents and reasons,” Red Cross District Disaster Management chief Yathish Baikampady said.
“Of the 500 we had intimated, some did not have the proper documents and so they could not be considered. Finally, 402 NRIs were provided the first dose of the Covishield vaccine. Also 43 frontline workers like those working at labs, war room were provided vaccine,” he added.
Of the 402 more than 50 percent are those who have to move to Gulf countries. Some people had to go to Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Malaysia, and the United States.
Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel and former minister Ramanath Rai visited the camp.
The team of 35 active volunteers worked to make this camp a success.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rajendra KV, DHO Dr. Kishore, Indian Red Cross Society DK secretary Prabhakar Sharma, Chairman Shantharam Shetty, Rotary Governor Ranganath Bhat, vice chairman Nithyananda Shetty, Red Cross Management Committee members Ravindranath Uchil, Ravindra Shetty, Sacheth Suvarna, and Youth Red Cross nodal officer of Mangaluru University Ganapathi Gowda provided necessary guidance and supervised the camp.
