The Indian Medical Association (IMA) have decided to offer their services in the COVID-19 vaccination programme of the government whenever the vaccine is available for use. They have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use its trained manpower for the noble cause, as it has more than three lakh members.

The IMA said that all their members are willing to offer their services voluntarily and free of charge. They wrote a letter to the prime minister on Sunday regarding this.

The vaccines would be provided as per the cold chain conditions with disposables. It will be a force amplifier for the immunization programme and considerably increase the number of outlets that will be available for people, said the doctors body.

It said that the IMA members have remained involved in treating COVID-19 patients throughout the country as frontline warriors without even caring for their own safety and their families. They are urging to take its services for administering the COVID- 19 vaccine all over the country. The IMA will offer its services in the COVID- 19 vaccination programme of the Government as above 3 lakhs of its members are qualified modern medicine doctors.

Stating that the IMA has 1,750 branches which is spread in all the districts of the country. The doctors body said that an effective top-down command and control is also in position with 28 state branches.

Many of their members have a small team of nurses for professional practice whereas a large number of small and medium hospitals with nursing homes in sub-district towns are managed by IMA members. These practitioners are available in remote and hilly districts also. Besides, many of them had taken part in the pulse polio vaccination initiative and many other government welfare programs. The IMA will work with the government with full enthusiasm and strength at all levels to implement the vaccination programme on a war footing to reach each and every citizen of the country.

Source: mint