Block Extension Educators — the unsung heroes of the testing times

Charanjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 9

The combat against the Covid pandemic has united everyone. The frontline workers have been giving their all, putting their lives at risk, taking paycuts and what have you. It is staggering to witness the amount of effort being put in.

However, amid all the hype, the Block Extension Educators (BEE) of the Health Department have slipped out of sight somehwhere in between. Much like the work conducted by the campaigners of the 'Mission Fateh', they almost have the same work profile creating awareness about the government schemes and health programmes in their respective block. But the outbreak meant that the BEEs, apart from their usual rut, will have to incorporate the message of awareness about the virus as well. Hence, tightening the noose around their already crammed schedule — as per the calendar, the BEEs went through 52 programmes, cutting across the year, organising awareness and mobilisation drives. The programmes included National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, National Leprosy Eradication Programme, National Programme For Control Of Blindness, Revised National TB Control Programme, just to name a few.

Amirably, through these testing times, and with already so much on their plate, they have been working round the clock spreading awareness about the pandemic. They have also been tasked with some new works like survey of the infected cases, counselling of quarantined persons and positive ones, mobilisation for sampling. Thus, churning out a new normal, which, if put in one word, is commitment toward their work.

To further stretch their timetable, the educators also observe all the international and national days and weeks for health awareness such as the World Population Day, No tobacco Day and World TB Day. Apart from this, they also have to attend the public meetings to arrange the camps. However, this hasn't deterred them.