New Delhi: Covid-19 A multimedia exhibition van to create awareness about vaccination and self-reliant India was flagged off by the Chief Health Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Vyas, at the Films Division campus in Mumbai today.
This van has 3 routes in Mumbai, Bandra-Dharavi-Juhu-Andheri-Borivali; Goregaon-Chinchwali-Malad-Kandivali-Charkop-Borivali-Dahisar; Kurla-Chembur-Ghatkopar-Mankhurd-Turbhe-Bhandup-Vikhroliki will travel. Smita Vats Sharma, Director General of Film Division and Dr. Vivek R., Surveillance Medical Officer of WHO. Pardeshi was also present in the ceremony.
Under this campaign, 16 specially built vans will travel across 36 districts of Maharashtra to spread awareness among people with a message. Vans will also display messages via LED screens and these vans will be tracked live via GPS through an integrated dashboard that can be accessed by scanning the QR code.
Appreciating the initiative taken by ROB, Dr. Pradeep Vyas said, there is a huge difference between the situation now and when the first Covid-19 case was registered in Maharashtra almost a year ago. Little was known about the disease at that time. Dr. Vyas said, but now we have a better idea about the disease and hence, we know what message people should give. He said that when the Maharashtra government started a publicity campaign about Covid in the month of September, Its results began to emerge and the situation stabilized overall in the month of November in the state. He further said that the Covid cases have increased again in the state for the last 10 days, and in such a situation, the right initiative has been taken by ROB at the right time.
Dr. Vyas said, “Now it is necessary to send some important messages to the people”. These are: 1) Covid can be still and any member of the family. 2) Both vaccines, covichelid and covaxine, are safe, effective and should be taken by whichever vaccine is given. 3) Pregnant and lactating mothers and those under the age of 18 are not yet being vaccinated. 4) When a vaccine is being given to someone, not only that person but other people around and those interacting with that person also get protection. Thus, people who have had themselves tested and developed antibodies should not hesitate to take the vaccine. 5) The second dose of vaccine is to be taken after 28 days.
Principal Secretary of Health, Government of Maharashtra further said, it is necessary to create vaccination and awareness about it. He said this would help in curbing misinformation and rumors about vaccines.
On this occasion, DG Films Division Smt. Smita Vats Sharma said, “The campaign to follow Covid appropriate behavior has brought us into a phase of vaccination in this fight against Covid.” The purpose of the visit of the multimedia exhibition van will be to make every person aware about vaccination not only by providing information, but also through information. These multimedia vans are a mix of use of interpersonal information and digital technology. While ROB artists will liven up the messages of self-reliant India and vaccination through a cultural event, the general public can also scan QR codes displayed on the vans from official websites and social media handles to gather more information.
Cultural artists from the music and drama division performed street plays and dances at the event. They will deliver the message through popular folk demonstrations in the respective districts / regions of Maharashtra. Information has played a big role in curbing the Covid-19 epidemic. In this effort, the objective of the campaign is to bring the information of the government to the doorstep of the people. Representatives of all the participating organizations and other senior officers and employees of the Films Division were present at the event.
The campaign was designed and implemented by the Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB), Pune – a media unit of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the IEC Division of the Department of Health, Government of Maharashtra. . The campaign was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar, about a week ago in Pune.