More than 370 people in Lunana, in the extreme north of Gasa, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The team of seven health officials and seven Desuup personnel will start the home-based vaccination services for elderly people above 70 years of age and people with disability from this Sunday after vaccinating themselves.
Braving the cold in the snow-covered mountains, three teams of health officials and DeSuups walked for days to the various vaccination posts carrying entire medical equipment on their backs. They covered all the seven vaccination posts including Wachey village today and will return to Lunana Public Health Centre by tomorrow.
“Since our five chiwogs are not nearby, the Health Assistant, Doctor and Desuup faced lots of challenges as they had to walk a minimum of five to six hours to reach the vaccine posts. Still then considering it as a public service, they tried their best by vaccinating during the day and travelling in the night,” said Sonam Yoezer, the Mangmi of Lunana Gewog.
And the people in the far-flung valley of Lunana were happy to receive the vaccine.
“We are extremely thankful for providing us with the vaccines equally like other dzongkhag though we are in remote places. Before the vaccination, I heard people were talking about getting a headache and other sicknesses after vaccination. I also heard that we have to take enough foods before vaccination. However, I did not feel any such signs after the vaccination,” said Sonam Phuntsho, from Lunana in Gasa.
“The government has sent us vaccine, health staff, doctor and Desuup in helicopter bearing a huge cost for the benefit of Lunana people. So, we would like to offer our heartfelt gratifications. The people of Lunana have been extremely benefited by the vaccine. Even our previous minor body aches have been clearly recovered after the vaccination,” added Namgay Kiba, in Lunana.
The team has completed the first round of the vaccination campaign before their scheduled timing, as they expedited their works by vaccinating during the day and travelling during the night.
According to a source, no complaint of severe adverse reaction has been reported so far. There are 470 registered people above 15 years of age in Lunana. Lunana is located at an altitude of 3,400 meters above sea level and about eight days walk from the dzongkhag centre.
“The Gewog Administration is reminding and sensitising our people about not to be complacent after the vaccination, because people think that they can return to normal like in the past. So, we are reminding them to follow the health protocols strictly till the next vaccine comes,” the Mangmi added.
Meanwhile, two health officials and a Desuup deployed to vaccinate the residents of Uesana village under Lunana Gewog in Gasa are still stuck there due to the bad weather. They were airlifted from Paro on March 29 and were supposed to return the next day after vaccinating 13 eligible people.
However, due to the bad weather condition and poor visibility in Paro and Dochhula mountain areas, the helicopter could not fly to the location to pick up the team so far. The team completed the vaccination programme as per the plan and did not report any severe adverse reaction complaint from the public. Uesana village, consisting of five households in Raminang-Uesana chiwog is located about four days walk from Goen Tshephu area in Punakha, which is the only access route to the village.
Meanwhile, the dzongkhag administration is in constant touch with the helicopter service to see the possibility to airlift the team as soon as the weather condition improves.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
