Army Mobile Vaccination Fleet Launched Covering Most Populous Areas in Western Province

The mobilization of the Army's first Western Province-based Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Fleet that prioritizes the vaccination of the elderly, sick, handicapped and feeble sections in society, a combined effort of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC), Directorate of Preventive Medicine and Mental Health, Directorate of Supply and Transport, Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, Brigadier Chandana Arangala, Brigadier Coordinator, NOCPCO started off this morning (12) from the Army Headquarters in the presence of its brainchild, General Shavendra Silva, Head, National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army.

The deployment of this fleet of ten Mobile Vaccination vehicles plus an ambulance on standby would administer the vaccine against COVID-19 visiting doorsteps of applicants only after those who need this mobile service register themselves with the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) through Hotline Nos 1906 or 0112860002.

General Shavendra Silva on arrival at the location was received by Major General Wasantha Madola, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army who was instrumental in implementing the combined project at short notice before Senior Officers involved in the project were introduced to the day's Chief Guest. He then inspected the new mobile vaccination fleet in the compound and shared a few thoughts with the medical staff.

Those vehicles with nurses, medical assistants, data entry operator and the driver will accordingly be stationed in most populous Dematagoda area (1 vehicle), Colombo 15, Modera area (3 vehicles), Gangarama Mawatha and Mattakkuliya area (1 vehicle), Colombo 14 - Grandpass area (3 vehicles), Colombo 15, Bloemendal Road area (2 vehicles) and be subsequently deployed where necessary in consultation with the NOCPCO, based on information. The standby ambulance with a Medical Officer will monitor the process closely throughout its operations.

On a Presidential directive, Army medical personnel were entrusted the task of vaccinating frontline workers in the control of COVID-19 pandemic in January, this year before they were primarily deployed in the Western Province, and elsewhere afterwards in order to support and expedite the island-wide mass vaccination programmes in collaboration with offices of Medical Officers of Health, other professionals and paramedics in the state sector.

The novel project launched as per directions of General Shavendra Silva, Head, National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army will be further broadened in future covering other provinces as well.

Senior Officers including Major General Wasantha Madola, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Krishantha Gnanarathna, General Officer Commanding 14 Division, Brigadier Crishantha Fernando, Director General Army Health Services, Colonel Saveen Semage, Director Army Directorate of Preventive Medicine and Mental Health joined the launch of the mobile vaccination fleet at the Army Headquarters.

Source: www.army.lk