Mangaluru: Dr.
Diana Savitha, medical officer, Kaniyoor PHC in Belthangady, and his team has won the appreciation of the Covid Officer district to work in difficult conditions.
With only 50% of staff, PHC has managed to manage the first dose of the vaccine to protect against Covid-19, to more than 80% of the population.
Kaniyoor PHC has 10 sub-centers, and is one of the largest in this district, serving a population of 48,760 in 12 villages.
Dr.
Diana, a Ayush doctor posted in the Kaniyor PHC, told Tii, “since the Covid-19 crisis, we have been in our feet, especially because of the lack of staff, and difficult geographical conditions.
We don’t have full time staff in our PHC .
For field work, we only have five staff for 10 sub-centings.
From January this year, we got two lab technicians to collect Swabs for Covid-19, and one data entry operator.
Contracts of several staff will end this month, “he said .
For a population of around 48,000, PHC has 43 Asha workers and 63 Anganwadi workers.
“We have received great support from staff, including medical officials from Dr.
Kalamadhu,” he said.
Providing details about the coverage of vaccination, he said, “In the age group 18-44, almost 90% have received their first dose, among those aged between 45-59 years, we have covered 78% of the population.
Overall, more than 80% have been covered with the first dose and about 60% with the second dose.
We also went to the door to the door to give a vaccine.
This is a big challenge, because some areas do not have transportation, and some roads do not have a way.
We have to pass the bridge and Temporary hill.
We vaccinate 87 senior beds and endosulfan victims on Thursday.
PHC also has more than 300 endosulfan victims.
They are inoculated based on priorities, “he said.
While the team barely took a vacation, on the challenge, Dr.
Diana said, “Reaching the main contact in the field and collecting swabs is the biggest challenge.
Initially, they would even scold us.
Over time, people have understood the importance of collections and vaccines.” DR Ashok H, Nodal Officer for Covid-19, Dakshina Kannada, told TII, “Although the staff are limited, Dr.
Diana and his team have done an extraordinary work, especially in some remote villages where there is no road.
When it comes to vaccine administration too , the level of success is good.
Being a mother of a two-year-old boy, there are days when he is far from his child, “he said.