Bengaluru: While the Department of Health and family welfare has suggested staff in the district to take holidays – preferably on Sundays – every week of vaccination people, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Puku (BBMP) has not made a decision to pause the drive.
The aim is to give a break to health workers because they have worked continuously for the past eight months.
While congratulating health workers with the hard work they have done for the past eight months, Dr.
Arundhathi Chandrashekar, Director of the State Mission, National Health Mission, Karnataka has suggested all deputy commissioners and district health workers, to rest once a week.
“This step is to give them a break and increase productivity.
Health care workers are a tired lot,” said Dr.
Chandrashekar.
However, Randeep D, Special Commissioner, Health, BBMP, shows that opinions are divided into this issue.
“We haven’t called,” he said.
While a set of officials wants to heed the government’s adviser and suspend the drive on Sunday, another set interested in continuing the journey all day a week.
However, doctors at the General Hospital in Bengaluru said the response was generally poor on Sunday.
“Very few people walk to vaccination centers at public hospitals on Sundays,” said a doctor, who was relieved by government advisors.
“To serve their handful, our staff must stay in their workstations all day.
Of course, they will all be given an alternative on weekdays, but there is a little job on Sunday.
This is a waste of human resources and has an impact on the working day schedule .
“In some centers, vaccine bottles are not even opened on Sundays, especially if there are less than 10 people waiting for a shot.
“When there are only four or five, we are forced to make them wait, hoping that more people will appear for a dose,” said another doctor at a government hospital.
“They are angry, but we are unable to open a bottle for some people and throw the remaining doses.
If there are less than 10 people, the vaccine is not given on Sundays and people are asked to come on another day.
Sunday drives are useless.” An official Senior who recognizes health workers is exhausted because they have worked continuously for the past 18 months.
“They have worked on the ground involved in supervision, testing people or vaccinating them.
They need to rest for one day a week,” the official said.
In most districts, the staff said working on Sunday was of no use because only a few were advanced to get shots.
“It’s a good step by the government.
Our workers are tired of working every day,” said Dr.
Indumati Patil, District Health Officer, Yadgir.
In Urban District Bengaluru, the centers who are willing to continue working on Sundays will be allowed to remain open on request, said Dr.
Srinivas GA, district health workers.
Tumakuru health officials said they would receive a call to take a Sunday break on Saturday.