Migrant workers’ inoculation could start from Tuesday

The expatriates' welfare ministry yesterday said outbound migrant workers have to be registered with Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) first to have access to the Surokkha app for Covid-19 vaccine registration.

"Once the [BMET] registration is done, your [migrant workers'] name and passport number will automatically reach health [authorities]," said expatriates' welfare minister Imran Ahmad.

He was addressing journalists at the capital's Kurmitola General Hospital where migrant workers gathered for vaccine.

Addressing journalists at the hospital, Dr Shamsul Haque, line director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said they are hopeful about starting inoculation of registered migrant workers with Pfizer vaccine from Tuesday.

The fresh government decision came as migrant workers demonstrated at Kurmitola General Hospital for vaccine after the government resumed its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign yesterday.

Although migrant workers who came home on vacation were unable to be vaccinated, a group of migrant workers with new employment visas were vaccinated at the hospital with the first doses of Pfizer vaccine, which the government said was 'token'.

Responding to a query, Minister Imran Ahmed said the new migrant workers were "ready" for inoculation from earlier.

He said while registering through Surokkha app, if migrant workers put their passport number, among other options, they will be accepted automatically in the system.

Through the app, it could also be known at what hospital their inoculation will be administered, he further said, adding they will issue a circular regarding migrant workers' vaccine registration with BMET.

He urged the demonstrating migrant workers to have patience.

The government's Surokkha app is designated for Covid-19 vaccine registration and operated by the information and communication technology (ICT) division.

Migrant workers heading abroad, especially to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, will get the Pfizer vaccines at seven centres in the capital. The vaccination will be done based on lists of workers provided by the BMET, said health officials.

The centres are: Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Shuhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Kurmitola General Hospital and Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital.

Also yesterday, administration of Sinopharm vaccine started in all district hospitals and 40 centres across the capital.

Addressing migrant workers yesterday, expatriates' welfare ministry secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen said migrant workers will be able to register through Surokkha from Monday.

For this, both old and new migrant workers have to be registered with BMET, he said.

He added the ministry has taken initiative so that migrant workers are inoculated with Covid-19 vaccine on a priority basis.

Referring to migrant workers who were inoculated yesterday, the secretary said such arrangement was 'token' and that only a handful of migrant workers had the opportunity.

BMET AND SUROKKHA APP REGISTRATION PROCESSES

Addressing journalists, BMET Director General Shahidul Alam said facility for registration with BMET will be open from 9am today (Friday) at district employment and manpower offices in 42 districts, 10 technical training centres and one institute of marine technology across the country.

Besides, option for online registration through 'Ami Probashi' app also remains open, he said.

Migrant workers who don't have national identity (NID) cards will be able to register using passport, he added.

Old migrant workers have to be registered afresh while new workers who are already registered with BMET since January 1, 2021 don't have to undergo the process, he further said.

"It will not be possible to access the system for [vaccine] registration without this [BMET] registration," he added.

He also said migrant workers will not be able to be inoculated with Pfizer vaccine outside Dhaka.

The DG said at present, 'migrant worker', has been included in the Surokkha app as a priority category which was absent earlier.

DGHS Director Shamsul Haque said once migrant workers are registered with BMET, health authorities will get list comprising their names and details.

The health authorities then 'whitelist' the BMET list and send it to the ICT division for further process, he said.

While registering through Surokkha, migrant workers who have to be inoculated with Pfizer vaccine should choose one of seven designated hospitals in Dhaka, he added.