Give us a COVID-19 vaccination centre, say villagers of Gorai and Manori

The church where villagers have suggested the vaccination centre could come up

AMID the shutting down of ferries from Gorai and Manori villages to the city due to the ongoing restrictions, villagers are having a hard time travelling for vaccinations. What would normally be a ferry ride of a few minutes, has turned into a 30 km journey to Mira Road, Dahisar or Borivli to access vaccination centres. Former corporator Shiva Shetty has written to the state government to establish a vaccination centre in Gorai village.

A school in the village has also been suggested as a location

Gorai and Manori together have a population of around 30,000, a majority of whom have not got their vaccines. Shetty said, "Villagers have no ferry services. They can't even travel anywhere. Many people are visiting Borivli-based Karuna hospital, Bhagwati hospital, Dahisar Jumbo COVID centre and Mira Bhayandar for vaccines," Shetty said.

An empty Gorai jetty on the Borivli side amid the COVID restrictions

"There are sufficient places like school, church, college in Gorai to establish a vaccination centre. We have written to the chief minister, health minister, our Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh, civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal, MP Gopal Shetty, MLA Sunil Rane and the prime minister to help us," Shetty said.

What villagers say

Gorai Gavthan Panchayat Sarpanch Rossy DSouza said, "Villagers travelling to Mumbai are spending Rs 300 only on travel. This is a lot of trouble. A vaccination centre can be started at the church, it has ample area for the same. Manori and Gorai are divided into 29 zones where we are already distributing ration kits. Each zone has a counsellor who will help manage the crowd."

Royston Godinho, Magdalin Kiny, Shiva Shetty and Rossy DSouza, sarpanch, Gorai gavthan

Royston Godinho from Gorai said, "Our villages do not have a proper hospital. Right now, COVID-19 cases are here low. But without proper health services, if the numbers increase, we will be in big trouble. None of the health facilities here has proper services and ICU beds are very few. With villagers vaccinated, our risk will reduce."

Villager Magdalin Kiny said, "Gorai comes under Borivli but we feel that we are not Mumbaikars. Nobody cares about us. Not just a vaccination centre, but there is also a need to develop a general hospital for people. In case of emergencies, we have to go to Borivli or Mira Bhayandar every time. We got no help even during the first lockdown."