From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 8: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa held a video conference interaction with ASHA workers in the state and warmly appreciated their work as the frontline workers in the state government’s efforts to control the Covid pandemic on Tuesday.
Yediyurappa said the state government appreciated the hard work put in by ASHA workers in the treatment and other Covid related work unmindful of the dangers to their lives and sanctioned a cash compensation of Rs 3,000 each in recognition of their work under the second relief and compensation package.
The chief minister obtained first-hand information from the ASHA workers on their difficulties, the problems faced by them and also cooperation and support received by them from the public as well as officials.
ASHA workers share their experiences
The ASHA workers informed the chief minister that the public was really scared of the situation as cases of Covid positive infections mounted and people were hesitant to get themselves treated, get admitted to the Covid Care Centres and also to get themselves vaccinated. The situation is changing now and people are cooperating, the ASHA workers told the chief minister.
Some of the ASHA workers recounted their tough tasks in convincing the villages to get themselves vaccinated and the efforts that were needed to organize vehicles with the help of officials to enable the people to visit the vaccination centres.
ASHA worker K V Sharada from Shivamogga district, who is recuperating at the Covid Care Centre after being testing Covid positive, participated in the video conference from the Centre itself.
Shivalingamma from Ramanagar mentioned that the people in her neighbourhood were hesitant of getting themselves vaccinated due to safety concerns and informed that she had to persuade her husband to take the vaccine dose so that the people could follow his example.
Bajjanavara from Vijayapura district, Rathnamma from Sabbamangala village, Lakkavva Naik of Navali village from Koppala district and Sharada Muddannavar from Surebana village in Belagavi district, Prema Prakash from Amminabhavi village in Dharwad district, Hemalatha from Sulkeri of Dakshina Kannada district, Shivalingamma of Doddagangavadi from Ramanagara district, Deepa Bajjanavar of Vijayapura district and Indira from Ganamoor village in Belagavi district were among the ASHA workers who got an opportunity to interact with the chief minister.
Health and family welfare minister Dr K Sudhakar, who accompanied the chief minister in the video conference, said the ASHA workers could play a big role in convincing the villagers that it is safe and better to get vaccinated. They should also convince the people to get themselves tested whenever they show symptoms and help them in getting treatment.
Chief minister’s additional chief secretary, Dr E V Ramana Reddy, chief minister’s secretary, Dr S Selvakumar and health and family welfare department commissioner, Dr K V Trilokchandra were present in the video conference.