Ukhrul district to intensify immunization programme to achieve scheduled immunisation target by 2019
Source: The Sangai Express

Ukhrul, October 01 2017: The children and the pregnant women, who were left out from the routine immunization programme, would be immunized through Intensive Mission Indradhanush (IMI) under the banner “Give your Child a disease free future” to achieve the set target of 90 percent immunization by the year 2019 .

Speaking to media persons, District Immunization Officer (DIO), Dr Kapangring, said that under this programme, Intensive Mission Indradhanush (IMI), the children and pregnant women, who were left out during the routine immunization drive, would be immunized .

He pointed out that four immunization rounds would be conducted through mobile services and the health workers would reach every nook and corner of the district to fully immunize those who were unable to get the benefit earlier .

The first round would be held from October 7 to 14, and consecutively for four months, till January, on the same date of every month .

He said that IMI immunization programme will be directly monitored from the Prime Minister’s office for the country, and for the State, monitoring will be done through the Chief Secretary, to ensure and prevent mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against the 12 vaccine preventable diseases.

As per surveys, 52 villages of Ukhrul have been identified from where around 352 children (age from 0-2 years) and 99 pregnant women, were left out during routine immunization .

According to him, the immunization survey target for the Ukhrul district was initially its 1,94,957 strong population including 3165 pregnant women and 2872 children and covering more than 250 villages of Ukhrul district .

However the previous year’s immunization performance was not satisfactory and had a very low percentage, he added .

The target for 2017-18 is to cross 90 percent to ensure a disease free district by the year 2019 .

Dr Kapangring, in his response to a query about the biggest challenge faced by the health workers while administering immunization programme, said that most of the ignorant parents denied vaccination as they have a wrong apprehension of the situation and often have an opinion that it is a secret Government policies for family planning /birth control from an early age .

While many dislike injection, the fever which follows vaccination because of the effect of the vaccine , is very hard for the people to understand, he added .

He explained that in order to abolish the mindset of the parents, various awareness rallies and street plays would be held at Ukhrul town inviting school students, and to spread awareness about the importance of timely immunization of every children to protect them from diseases .

During the rally, leaflets translated in Tangkhul dialect would be distributed for mass awareness .

Dr Kapangring further urged the people of the district to support the authority’ s movement to achieve the set target and to make Ukhrul, a disease free district, by 2019 .

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