No rest till all eligible people get vaccinated, says President

Lucknow: Stating that the battle against coronavirus pandemic was far from over, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday lauded the country’s vaccination programme while stressing that there was no time for rest till every eligible person in the country is vaccinated.

Speaking at the 26th annual convocation of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, he said: “with the collective efforts of our doctors, healthcare workers and administrators, the nation has been conducting the world’s largest vaccination drive. We have made incredible progress with more than 61 crore citizens successfully vaccinated across the country. In Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of the country, nearly 6.7 crore people have been vaccinated so far. I appreciate the efforts of all those who are contributing to this great mission.”

He added that the nation should remain grateful to all doctors, nurses, medical students, healthcare and sanitation workers and administrators who served fellow citizens while risking their lives and rose to the occasion of crisis. He also lauded the role of SGPGI in Covid-19 control while appreciating the support provided by the UP government.

Stating that buildings and facilities alone do not make a world class institute, he told the awardees and degree holders that the human element in health care was indispensable. “More important than method and technology is the human element, that is, the healer (in you). You have acquired great skills and knowledge; now is the time to put them to use in serving others. For the patient, hoping for relief and recovery, you are nothing less than an angel. Their faith in you is a great responsibility for you,” he said.

Defining the vision for SGPGI, the President said: “Many eminent personalities have worked hard to make SGPGI a premier institute. Now is the time to expand your influence. I am told that the chief minister has announced the setting up of medical colleges in every district. It is incumbent upon you to extend your expertise to all these upcoming institutes so that they can be developed as centres of excellence in their own way. This will help people get best treatment within the state which will eventually emerge as a preferred destination for healthcare.”