Odisha Health Dept Masks 'Ganesh Gaitonde' To Spread COVID Message

Bhubaneswar: The Health Department in Odisha took to memeing on social media to spread Covid awareness message among the people of the State.

The department skillfully used a grab of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui from his hit web series Sacred Games, where he played the character of mobster Ganesh Gaitonde, and made him wear a mask by altering the image digitally.

To protect yourself from #coronavirus, take both doses of #COVID19 vaccine within recommended gap. Don't lower your guard even during & after #COVID19Vaccination & follow all Government protocols. #OdishaCares #MaskUpOdisha pic.twitter.com/sqSapSgiU5

— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) July 7, 2021

Through the altered photograph of the popular actor the department tries to convey the importance of vaccination and mask use in order to keep death (COVID) at bay.

It used the famous one-liner Gaitonde used in the series, "Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki apun hi Bhagwan hai," to make people realise that vaccination and use of mask would give them the same level of assurance and confidence.

The meme attracted mixed reactions from the Twitter users who follow the handle. An user @being_eyedolls took a dig at the department by saying that people think they have become immortals after taking vaccines and hesitate to wear mask.

Wahi to dikkat hai , vaccine leke bhagwan (immortal) samajh lia hai khudko😐
Mask in pocket
Haath me manali ticket

— Drspeaks👩‍⚕️ (@being_eyedolls) July 7, 2021

At the same time another user, @jay_jeev2411 conveyed his pleasure by saying that memes are more attractive than regular posts for youths.

Finally.... Ur team join hands with Memes.... Basically Memes are more attractive than regular posts... For youths☺🥰🙌🤟

— Jyoti Ranjan Mishra (@jay_jeev2411) July 7, 2021

It is pertinent to mention here that, more and more government Twitter handles are taking to memes, creative trivias to convey the desired awareness messages and keep the users engaged in a positive way.

Recently, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) which manages the MO Bus service in Odisha has started a Twitter thread containing trivias about Odisha's geography and history which generated a lot of traction for the department.