JAMSHEDPUR: The health officials of West Singhbhum district are banking on a double amputee named Gulshan Lohra living in a remote village named Baranga at Saranda in Manoharpur block, who took the first dose of the vaccine on Tuesday, to help raise awareness regarding the inoculation drive among the villagers.
“Lohra volunteered to take his first dose and we are planning to felicitate him,” West Singhbhum civil surgeon Dr O P Gupta said, adding, “There is a lack of awareness regarding the vaccines in rural areas of our district and we are exploring new ways to do away with the misconception.
We hope that Lohra will set an example for others to follow.” Quadragenerian Lohra, who has lost both his arms, took the jab on his left thigh at the Manoharpur community health centre and said that he did not experience any health problems after taking the jab.
“Due to the lack of awareness, many villagers are afraid of falling sick or worse, losing their lives after taking the jab.
That is why many are unwilling to take it,” Kunal Saraf, the district governor of the Lions Club of Chaibasa, told TOI.