By: Malik Jehangir
SRINAGAR: The dismal scenario with regards to COVID-19 vaccination in the Kashmir valley would not have been there if the people at helm would have been proactive and serious while heeding to the suggestion of the Private Diagnostic Centres Association (PDCA) in this regard.
On April 30 this year the PDCA through its President Umar Iqbal Dhar had written a letter to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir offering free COVID-19 testing and vaccination services to the people in the Kashmir valley. Although, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Kondbarao (P K) Pole marked the letter to the concerned officer with prompt action, but no follow up action was taken.
Sources said the Jammu & Kashmir administration adopted a lackadaisical attitude and did not allow the private diagnostic centres, clinical laboratories and polyclinics to carry out testing as well as vaccination in the Kashmir valley. It is due to this reason that the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir especially Kashmir valley is lagging behind in this regard.
The PDCA had identified and designated more than 80 diagnostic centres across the length and breadth of Kashmir valley to carry out testing and vaccination of the people. This step could not be taken to the logical conclusion given the cold shouldered attitude of the people at helm in general more so those concerned with the health sector.
The PDCA had identified nine diagnostic centres and polyclinics in the Srinagar district for carrying out vaccination as well as testing of the people. In the Ganderbal district eight diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories had been identified for the purpose, but no of use given the laidback attitude of people at helm.
In the South Kashmir’s Anantnag district nine diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories had been designated for carrying out testing and vaccination of the people. In the North Kashmir’s Baramulla district 13 diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories had been earmarked for carrying out vaccination and testing of the people.
In the Central Kashmir’s Budgam district 10 diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories were identified for the vaccination and testing of the common masses. In South Kashmir’s Pulwama district 12 polyclinics, diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories for earmarked for carrying out testing and vaccination of the people.
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora district seven clinical laboratories and diagnostic centres were designated for carrying out testing and vaccination of the common masses. In North Kashmir’s Kupwara district one private hospital was designated for the testing and vaccination of the people.
Similar arrangements were made in more than 10 diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Kulgam districts. All the hard work put in by the office bearers of PDCA and owners of these diagnostic centres, polyclinics and clinical laboratories has gone waste, since the people at helm have shown non-seriousness up to this point of time.