Underlining the crucial role of Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) played during the Covid-19 pandemic, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan here said that India is presently supplying 71 countries including Brazil and Canada with the corona vaccine.
The Union Minister was here for inaugurating the New Green Campus of National Institute for Research in Environment Health (ICMR-NIREH), along with multiple facilities at AIIMS Bhopal. The green campus has been prepared in 4.20 lakh sq ft area with a cost of Rs 124 crore.
Harsh Vardhan on the occasion said that it should be ensured that scientific research benefit humans’ welfare and their basic issues are sorted out.
The Union Minister candidly said that a huge sum has been spent on developing this organisation and the state government has offered land free of cost so its now the responsibility of the scientists that they don’t engage in token research papers. “This organisation should make an identity for itself in the country,” said the minister.
Saying that India presently in offering Covid-19 vaccines to 71 countries across the globe, Harsh Vardhan said 1.84 cr people have been vaccinated in the country as of now.
Mincing no words on the Covid-19 threat, the Minister said that public should not have any misconception and none should be slack. We have to run the Covid-19 vaccination as a social campaign, he said.
He took strong objection to slackness from public saying even well-educated persons move around while masks hang around their neck. The biggest challenge is to make people follow the Covid-19 guidelines.
Commenting on the global recognition India received on climate change, the minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s schemes like Ujjawala and Swasth Bharat are meant to keep the sanctity of the environment.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the occasion said that increasing cases of infections in MP are cause of concern and discussed about preventive measures taken by the state government.