Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that preparations were in the last stages for the vaccination programme against COVID-19.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot through videoconferencing, he said that people would get the vaccine manufactured in India and urged people not to let their guard down and strictly abide by coronavirus preventive norms even after vaccination.
“Earlier, I said, ‘Dawai nahi toh dheelai nahi’. Now, I am saying ‘Dawai bhi aur kadaai (caution) bhi’. Our mantra for the year 2021 is ‘Dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi’ ”.
Stating that India was getting ready to run the world's largest vaccination programme, the Prime Minister noted that India had turned into the nerve-centre of global health.
‘Watch out for rumours’
He cautioned people against rumours about the COVID-19 vaccination.
“Different people for their personal gains or due to irresponsible behaviour spread various rumours. Maybe rumours will be spread when vaccination begins, some have already begun,” he said.
“I appeal to the people of the country that fight against COVID-19 is the one against an unknown enemy. Be careful about such rumours and as responsible citizens refrain from forwarding messages on social media without checking.”
Speaking about medical education in the country, Mr. Modi said that his government was working on mission mode to improve this in India. In the last six years, work on 10 new AIIMS began and some of them are operational. “Twenty super speciality hospitals are also being built in the country,” he said.
Ayushman Bharat scheme
He added that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, about 7,000 Jan Aushadhi Centres had provided medicines at low cost to about 3.5 lakh poor patients.
“If 2020 was the year of health challenges, 2021 is going to become the year of health solutions. The world will move towards health solutions with better awareness,” Mr. Modi stressed adding that as the diseases were becoming globalised, it was time for a coordinated global response for global health solutions.
“India has done this as a global player. India proved its mettle by adapting, evolving and expanding as per demand. India moved with the world and did value addition in the collective efforts. India is emerging as the nerve centre of global health, in 2021 we need to further strengthen this role of India,” he added.
