SAHIWAL: Around 225,000 people have been vaccinated in the Sahiwal division having a population of seven million, says Director Health Services Sadiq Saleem.

Speaking to the media persons during his visit to various vaccination centres, he claimed that 17 centres with separate spaces for men and women were being operated in the division. The centre at the DHQ teaching hospital was providing the facility round the clock, he said.

A vaccination centre had been established at the Commissioner Office where the teachers of public-sector schools and government employees have been asked to have themselves vaccinated. The Commissioner Office had directed the head of each public-sector department to provide data of their employees and their families for vaccination.

he data showed around 85,600, 87,900 and 52,100 people have been vaccinated in Okara, Sahiwal and Pakpattan districts, respectively.

He said the citizens and youth were reluctant to have themselves vaccinated and consider it a threat to public health. He said the administration was having a huge amount of vaccination for the citizens.

He said the disinformation campaigns on social media must be checked and effective communication strategies developed at social media platforms.

Meanwhile, the medical college administration closed the “corona isolation ward” at Haji Abdul Qayuum Hospital because of reduction in Covid-19 cases.

Dr Muhammad Waseem, pulmonologist/focal person for coronavirus, confirmed that there was reduction in positive cases during the past three weeks.

He said earlier 30 to 35 positive cases were daily reported at the DHQ teaching hospital but now the number had been significantly reduced. He said there was hardly any new case in the last few days.

“We have 27 suspected cases and most of them are quarantined at their houses,” he said.

He said the health officials were speaking to traders, religious scholars, lawyers, school and college teachers and opinion-makers to convince citizens to go for vaccination.

CLASH: A man was killed and two others were critically injured when two rivals groups clashed at 59/GD village on Sunday evening.

Bahadur Shah police SHO Ashraf Gujjar said the initial report revealed that a group attacked the other with bamboos, sticks and pistols at a farm over a land dispute. The assailants killed Altaf by opening fire at him and injured Asia Bibi and Mohsin.

The SHO said police were conducting raids to arrest the attackers.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2021