It is indeed good news that the government’s nationwide campaign to vaccinate the population will begin on February 7 according to Health Minister Zahid Maleque, with the initial shipment of 5 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine having been cleared by the Directorate General of Drug Administration.
In this regard, we commend the government for setting up the Surokkha website, www.surokkha.gov.bd, which will allow the people of this country to register for the vaccine. There's also a mobile app to complement the online registration process, which will be available initially on the Google Play store from February 4, with an iOS version to follow.
Furthermore, it is encouraging to note that the authorities are taking advantage of the innovations brought forth by Digital Bangladesh, which have allowed so many people across the nation to have access to the wonders of the internet, a service which had remained elusive to them for the longest time.
However, planning is one thing, but proper implementation of these plans has oftentimes been the crutch that has prevented government services from being provided to our citizens quickly and efficiently and, unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened, with issues galore regarding the entire process. Mismanagement, miscommunication, and an overall lack of accountability have resulted in frontline workers being unable to receive the priority vaccination they deserve.
While we understand that the initial stages of a new process are daunting, we cannot let it be an excuse, especially when the fate of the nation hangs in the balance.
We urge the authorities to understand the importance of this responsibility, and ensure that all the issues are ironed out as quickly as possible.
