DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Punjab Health Systems Corporation chairman Amardeep Singh Cheema has introduced an innovative concept of Direct Contact (Seedhi pahunch) in view of the hesitation shown by the masses in COVID-19 testing in initial stages. In a press statement here, Cheema said he has called upon the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) such as panchayat samiti members, sarpanches and representatives in Urban Local Body (ULB) during the programme "Direct Connect (Siddhi Pahunch)" where he encouraged the representatives to use their local influence to motivate large number of people for getting the corona testing and participate in vaccination drive started by the Punjab government. Cheema approached more than 2,000 village sarpanches and 200 block samiti members and personally wrote a letter to more than 200 municipal councillors and sarpanches. Moreover, he has also called upon more than 12,000 people called micro leaders having significant local area of influence for encouraging the COVID-19 testing through permanent public health facilities and mobile units. Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ishfaq played a significant role in organizing the other departments having wider public dealing including revenue, education, electricity board and transport etc in encouraging the COVID-19 testing and corona vaccination. While appreciating the participation of local public representatives of PRI and Urban Local Body (ULB), Cheema said that in some cases, sarpanches have also played a major role in convincing the residents to get their admission in L-2 and L-3 health facility due to their falling oxygen saturation level. This organized campaign "direct connect (sidhi paunch)" will be a game changer where entire block has a well connected chain of Senior Medical Officer (SMOs), Lady Health Worker (LHV), Associated Nurse Midwifery (ANM), Health Inspector (HI), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) , Sarpanch, 108 & 104 helplines and escalation matrix starting from ASHA to L-1, L-2 & L-3 hospitals. Cheema also appreciated the initiative of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for not leaving any stone unturned in tackling the corona crises and handholding the health workers. (editor@dailyworld.in)