‘Corona-Free Kashmir’ initiative launched

Islamabad : The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in collaboration with the Health Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir launched the ‘Corona-Free Kashmir’ initiative under which public will be vaccinated through mobile vaccination units in different districts of AJK. An inaugural ceremony of the initiative was held at the Kashmir House here on Friday.

The ceremony was attended by President AJK Sardar Masood Khan, Chairman PRCS Abrar-ul-Haq, Chairman PRCS AJK Ejaz Raza, Secretary General PRCS Dr. Adeel Nawaz, IFRC Head of Delegation Peter (Piwi) Ophoff, healthcare workers, officials of the government of AJK, as well as staff and volunteers of PRCS.

In the first phase of the initiative, vaccination mobile units have been established in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur; mobile units will also be set up in other districts of AJK. PRCS will deploy its ambulances and volunteers for mass vaccination.

Speaking on this occasion, Sardar Masood Khan lauded the efforts of PRCS in combating Coronavirus, saying that the swift actions of the National Society played a key role in preventing spread. He said, PRCS volunteers have played an effective role in raising public awareness of the pandemic.” He paid tribute to philanthropists for helping the affected people and the government in coping with the challenge.

Abrar said, PRCS has expanded its recently launched campaign for door-to-door and mobile vaccination against Covid-19 virus in order to contain spread of the pandemic. As part of the initiative, door-to-door vaccination drive is in full swing in the territorial limits of Islamabad Capital Territory and in different parts of Karachi and Rawalpindi in collaboration with the government.

Abrar said, the Red Crescent Corona Care Hospital (RCCH) in Rawalpindi which was designated by the government as a Mass Vaccination Centre for Covid-19, has vaccinated over 150,000 people so far. He said, PRCS in collaboration with the Health Department of Sindh and the National Command and Operation Centre, has opened 3 mobile Covid-19 vaccination units in Karachi. “Preparations are also underway to establish mass vaccination centers at PRCS dospitals in different districts of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Tribal areas,” he added.

Ejaz Raza said, the fight against the COVID19 is not over. He stressed the need to expedite the process of vaccination and appealed to the citizens to get vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible. Earlier, officials from the Health Department of AJK briefed the participants on the initiative.

In the end, the President AJK along with PRCS Chairman and others inspected the ambulances that will be deployed by PRCS at mobile vaccination units.