Hyderabad: A massive vaccination drive exclusively for Self Help Group (SHG) women in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits commenced here on Wednesday. As a part of the drive, 48,879 persons were administered with the vaccine today.
There are 46,255 self-help groups with over 4.67 lakh women and the vaccination drive was taken up at 60 centres across the city. These centres include the existing 31 vaccination centres that were set up by the civic body to vaccinate people falling under the high risk category.
Persons working in grocery shops, rythu bazaars, salons, laundry service, pan shops, markets (vegetable, fruits, flowers, chicken, meat and fish) as well as street vendors were categorised as high risk groups. GHMC officials said the massive vaccination drive held for them was successfully completed following which the drive for SGH women was taken up.
“GHMC’s urban community wing has details of SHG beneficiaries along with their address and phone numbers. Based on these, e-coupons are being generated and the women are being given the free jab. The civic body staffers are visiting the houses of SHG women and generating e-coupons,” said a GHMC official. Elaborate arrangements were made in the newly set up 29 centres too. Most of the vaccination centres were partitioned into three segments – registration desk, vaccination centre and waiting area.
The women who got themselves vaccinated at these centres on Wednesday thanked the State government for making exclusive arrangements for them and helping in getting vaccinated without hassles. “We want to thank the government for administering us with the free jab. The drive was hassle-free with the staffers visiting our home and entering required details. The date and time was mentioned in the text message that we received post registration. The vaccination process was completed within 30 minutes,” said Kalpana from Bhavani Self Help Group, who took the jab at LIG Colony Community Centre, RC Puram.
Another beneficiary who took the vaccine shot at Sandhya Convention, Gachibowli said the vaccination drives for SHG women were the need of the hour.
“We are 10 members and all of us sell jute bags made with loan sanctioned by the State government in July 2020. A special drive for us is very helpful as we are at more risk of contracting the virus, given our work,” said Laxmamma at the Serilingampally centre.
Another woman said that the staffers counselled and guided them. “The officials asked us to wait for half an hour post vaccination. They monitored our health and also assisted us with the tablets that needed to be taken in case of fever symptoms,” said a woman at Multipurpose Community Hall, Patancheru.
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .