Saturday, 22 May 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Remembering numerous people who died of Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday turned visibly emotional as he offered his condolences to them.
While addressing doctors, paramedical staff, and other frontline health workers from Varanasi, his home constituency, the Prime Minister choked and stopped for a while to collect himself.
“This virus took away so many people who were close to us. I offer my deepest condolences to their families,” said Modi.
The effect of the pandemic has been so vast that despite all efforts, numerous lives were lost, said a teary-eyed PM.
All the while, he went on to caution against the “new challenge of black fungus” saying the country must be prepared to fight the potentially fatal condition that is increasingly seen in Covid patients in the country.
“In recent days we have a new challenge of black fungus. It is important to prepare systems to tackle it,” said the PM.
He said vaccinations should be a mass movement in the battle against Covid.
“Vaccination has provided protection to our frontline workers, who could serve the people. In the coming days, we will be extending vaccine protection to everyone,” said the PM while addressing doctors, paramedical staff, and other frontline health workers from Varanasi, his home constituency.
“Varanasi has set a great example by the way it has equipped Pandit Rajan Mishra Covid hospital and increased the number of oxygen beds and ICU beds in the city, in such a short span of time, “ Modi said as he spoke about the numerous people who had died of Covid-19.
Calling for special attention to rural areas, he also unveiled a new slogan “Jahan Bimar, Wahin Upchar” and appreciated the micro-containment zone implemented by the city.
“I thank every Kashiwasi, especially our doctors, nurses, technicians, ward boys, ambulance drivers, the work you all have done is commendable,” he said.
Modi referred to the threat to children and said they needed to be protected in the fight against Covid.
“There is a need to protect our children against Covid-19. We have had successes in the past in battling diseases which affect children, and we have successfully dealt with those illnesses and ensured the safety of our children. We must implement best practices and do all we can to ensure children are safe,” he said and praised UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s role in containing the disease affecting children.
