Mumbai: Amid rising cases of COVID-19 and Omicron, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tied up with the Clean-Up Foundation to vaccinate around 2,000 garbage collectors in Dharavi.
Describing the initiative as a “Christmas gift” for the residents of Dharavi, the Clean-Up Foundation also distributed ration packets to all those who got vaccinated at the camp. This was also done to ensure greater participation of rag pickers and garbage collectors in the camp. Senior BMC officials along with their team of doctors and health workers were present on the occasion.
The organization’s activities are targeted at improving and enhancing the cleanliness, safety and hygiene of garbage collectors and waste pickers who are living in appalling conditions.
Read also | COVID-19 omicron Variant can’t give time for preparation: WHO experts warn Tamil Nadu government
Sanjana Runwal, Founder, Clean-Up Foundation said, “It is our endeavor to provide the kind of assistance to the sweepers and waste pickers which is not easily available to them. That’s why we are running this free vaccination campaign in collaboration with MCGM.
He also said that the main objective of this initiative was to provide valuable insights along with vaccination to safeguard the health of solid waste workers and garbage collectors.
He said he wanted to encourage people to get vaccinated. “With the backdrop of the pandemic, vaccination was extremely important to them. Based on our extensive primary research on ragpickers, we found that even after the epidemic is in its second year, there is a lot of misinformation, doubt and concern. Vaccines And about their impact on one’s health,” Runwal said.
,