Shah Zain
Covid created havoc across the world in the past over two years. Jammu and Kashmir too was hit. But what stands out here is the resilience of the people, dedication of our doctors and other medical staff, and the steel will of the administration. Our mortality rate was low, and our response to deal with the deadly virus was outstanding.
Exemplary Work By Health Staff
The credit of our Covid success story in Jammu and Kashmir goes squarely to the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, who led his entire administration and the healthcare staff including doctors, nurses and other paramedic staff in achieving a distinct position for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K is recognised as one of the better performing states/UTs with regards to covid management.
J&K was among the highest testing states/UTs where corona testing was massively done in every nook and cranny of the UT. We saw our healthcare workers scaling snowy peaks to reach the last person with doses and testing kits. The administration dedicated 17 covid hospitals with 60,000 new beds including 20,000 ICU beds and 2500 isolation beds with oxygen facilities in its battle against covid-19.
100 pc Vaccination
Now J&K has achieved another distinction. We have achieved a 100 percent mark in the administration of both the COVID-19 vaccination doses to the 18+ population as well as the 15-17 age group. While the health administration of the UT is in full gear to also achieve the 100 percent target of vaccination for the 12-14 age group as well in days to come.
“In 12-14 years, J&K has achieved 92% in the first dose and 86% in the second dose. This coverage has led to a decrease in COVID cases across the UT as compared to the figures before vaccination,” UT level health officials said.
Health A Priority Area
Post abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has embarked on a new trajectory of development and prosperity. On the directions and guidance of the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UT administration has taken several reformative measures for socio-economic development and empowerment of people of J&K. Health sector is one key focus area, and battling the corona virus aggressively was an area of highest priority.
The Union Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare is providing every possible help to Jammu and Kashmir in carrying out both covid vaccination, precautionary doses and in preventing spread of such communicable diseases in future.
So far, 1,475,779 precautionary COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across J&K, which includes 57621 doses to Healthcare Workers, 231925 doses to Frontline Workers, 363330 doses to 60+ population and 8,22,903 doses to the 18-59 age group. Overall 2 crore 46 thousand doses have been administered, which is a huge number that has proven beneficial in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 infection as well as in reducing the severity in case of infected cases.
Keeping The Momentum Going
As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, J&K has administered 14,75,779 doses to eligible beneficiaries while adequate vaccines are being released from the Ministry as per the demand from J&K.
Although negligible cases of covid keep coming even now, overall we have a positive health scenario. And the need of the hour is to keep the momentum going so that J&K remains safe from any deadly virus. Also we hope that we don’t have to live again with the new normalised realities, like working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues. It was challenging to adapt to lifestyle changes such as these, and managing the fear of contracting the virus.
