We are now at least in Goa witnessing a rank breach of protocol in the COVID-19 vaccination which is now underway.
Despite the government directives that only Health Care workers are entitled to vaccination in this first round many influential family and friends of those running private hospitals have illegally managed to sneak in despite not being Health Care Workers. They have taken undue advantage as there is no proper mechanism in place to identify and weed out the non Health Care workers from the list of applicants. All this does not augur well for a system that had to be just and fair, free from any favoritism or sleaze. It is so unfortunate that prominent people have the audacity to circumvent the set procedure even during a pandemic. It has been rightly said that Power corrupts and absolute Power corrupts absolutely. Government guidelines are meant to be strictly adhered to and the onus is on the officials to crack the whip on the violators without fear or favour. This destructive virus does not discriminate between people of wealth and status and the common man. It infects anyone and everyone especially the vulnerable and those exposed to the virus. It is for this reason only that the priority groups established by experts must be vaccinated first and in that order. With Chief Minister Pramod Sawant publicly stating that he has not yet decided whether he will be taking the vaccine or not, it is no moral booster to especially the uninformed public. Infact the recent session of the Goa Legislative Assembly was an ideal occasion for all the 40 law makers to be vaccinated with Government special approval. It would have bolstered the public’s now wavering trust in that vaccine. It is lamentable that integrity is the loser even at a time of national crisis, as cronyism and queue jumping because of status can take precedence over what is sensible and beneficial for the common good. Integrity is the essence of everything successful. Government and those selfish enough to think that they can corruptly manipulate the system, should take heed of Martin Luther King Jr ‘s advice when he said, ‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy’. I for one have decided to receive my jab at the Ribandar Health Centre in the Old Ribandar Hospital when it starts. I was privileged to be born over 60 years ago in that great Hospital. And God forbid anything goes wrong, let it happen at the venue of my birth. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
