Team Herald
VELIM: In view of the alarming rise of COVID fatalities and positive cases in the State especially in Salcete Taluka’s rural village of Velim, the Velim Village Panchayat has requested the Director of Health Services to conduct vaccination camp in Velim.
Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva said that he had written a letter to the Director of the Directorate of Health Services prior to the Velim Panchayat ward bye-elections held on April 23 requesting that a vaccination camp be held in the village.
Pointing out that the neighbouring Assolna village has already conducted its third vaccination drive at the Assolna Sub-Health Centre, Savio questioned the political discrimination being meted out to Velim as it may be noted that the Velim sarpanch, who is a staunch Congressman has already declared his intention to contest the forthcoming 2022 Assembly elections against the present local Congress-turned-BJP MLA and Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues.
In his letter to the DHS Director, Savio has requested that a one day vaccination camp be held at the Rural Medical Dispensary (RMD) or Health and Wellness Centre housed in the Velim Village Panchayat premises.
Savio further drew the attention of the DHS Director to the fact that ‘despite having a RMD or Health and Wellness Centre at Velim, the anti-COVID-19 vaccination camp has not been organised at Velim.’ A copy has been sent to the Balli Primary Health Centre (PHC) medical officer.
Interestingly, the former Sarzora sarpanch Sabita Mascarenhas, too shared a similar view.
Sabita said, “There are many cases in Sarzora so I had requested the Chinchinim Primary Health Centre (PHC) doctor to conduct a vaccination camp in the village but he told me to arrange an ambulance if we wanted to have it in the panchayat so everyone goes to the Health Department. Since I possess a hall, I had requested the doctor to conduct the vaccination camp but the doctor said that it would require an ambulance and other medical infrastructure.
