PM reiterates Govt’s commitment to provide COVID-19 vaccine to everyone free of cost; Vaccination coverage to be expanded from Monday
New Delhi, June 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, the Government is committed to provide free of cost COVID-19 vaccine to everyone. He said, vaccination coverage will be expanded from the upcoming 21st June and the same facility will be provided to the people aged above 18 years which have been provided to people aged above 45 years so far.
Talking about the changing nature of the Coronavirus and the country’s resilience to deal with this infectious disease, Mr. Modi has said, COVID-19 pandemic has helped in developing a robust medical infrastructure in the country. He said, this pandemic has helped the government, science, society, institutions and individuals to expand their capabilities.
He stressed on creating medical infrastructure in the country to deal with the growing challenge of mutant Coronavirus. He said, efforts are still going on in the country to create a huge network of medical infrastructure and provide medical equipment to the remotest areas. He said, new AIIMS, medical colleges and Nursing Colleges have been set up in the last few years. He said, millions of youths are required to expand the medical infrastructure in the country.
The Prime Minister today launched a Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 Frontline workers. With the launch, this programme in 111 training centres spread over 26 states has commenced. The programme aims to skill and upskill over one lakh COVID warriors across the country and the training will be completed in two to three months. The programme will create skilled non-medical healthcare workers to fill the present and future needs of manpower in the health sector.
Highlighting the importance of this skill development programme, Mr. Modi said, unprecedented efforts are being made to create a large pool of trained healthcare workers in the country. He said, the next phase of an important campaign against Coronavirus is starting with this programme. He said, thousands of professionals were trained in the country during the first wave of Coronavirus which helped in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister has said, Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 Frontline workers will provide skill training to over one lakh youths in the country and the training will open new job opportunities for youths. He said, this course will provide new possibilities and opportunities for the welfare of humanity. He said, these trained health care workers will reduce the burden from Doctors and Nurses who are continuously engaged in treatment of COVID patients since the last outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Talking about the importance of skill, re-skill and up-skill of the healthcare workers, the Prime Minister said that expanding skills is the need of the hour. He said, dynamic system is required with the speedy change in technologies. He said, the Government is continuously focussing on skill development through Skill India Mission which has provided training to lakhs of youths in the country so far.
Appreciating the role of ASHA, ANM and healthcare workers posted in the rural dispensaries, Mr. Modi said, they have provided significant contribution in prevention of infection to the administration of vaccines.
Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 Frontline workers has been designed as a special programme under the Central Component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0. The training will be imparted to COVID warriors in six customised job roles namely Home Care Support, Basic Care Support, Advanced Care Support, Emergency Care Support, Sample Collection Support, and Medical Equipment Support.