Media workshop
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 19 2018:
The State Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with support of WHO and UNICEF, organised a one day media workshop on Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, at Classic Hotel today.
State Mission Director of National Health Mission as well as Director of Health Services, Dr K Rajo, State Immunization Officer, Dr Nandkishwor, State Mission Officer, WHO, Dr Pranay Dutta and Communication Officer (Media) of UNICEF, Assam, Tahseen Alam, spoke on various topics in the workshop.
Speaking at the event, Dr K Rajo said that as a part of the Prime Minister's flagship programme to eradicate Measles and to control Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in the country, a five week Measles-Rubella vaccination (MR vaccination) campaign will be launched in the State from March 26 .
MR vaccination was launched for the first time in five States of the country in February last year.
The second phase of the campaign was launched in August the same year, in eight States and Union Territories.
Manipur will be included in the third phase, he added.
Dr K Rajo said that MR vaccination will be conducted across 7 district hospitals, 2 subdistrict hospitals, 17 CHCs, 85 PHCs and 242 PHSCs and a total number of 4900 ASHA workers, 11,000 Anganwadi workers and 6000 teachers will be utilised for the said purpose.
Stressing on the importance of the media workshop for success of the vaccination campaign, Dr Rajo said that the Education Department, Social Welfare Department as well as the Indian Association of Paediatrics will also play huge roles in ensuring the campaign's success.
Appealing to the people, NGOs and village chiefs to support the campaign, the Director explained that MR vaccination will help in protecting children from the age of 9 to 15 years, from two different diseases.
There are no side effects of the vaccine, he added.
On the other hand, State Immunization Officer, Dr Nandkishwor said that immunization is the most cost effective form of public health intervention.
Taking stock of the number of beneficiaries, geographical coverage and the quantities of vaccine, India is the only country with such large immunization programme/campaign and the country aims to immunize around 26 million children every year.
However, Nandkishwor explained that only 65 percent of the children get proper immunization during the first year of their lives and to increase this figure, the Government has implemented Mission Indradhanush and Intensified Mission Indradhanush.
Speaking about the two diseases, Dr Nandkishwor said that if the diseases are not properly attended to in time, complications may arise, even leading to death.
He explained that Measles can lead to fever, diarrhoea and even encephalitis while Rubella or German Measles, can lead to miscarriage in women, birth defects and even lead to women becoming sterile.
Nandkishwor debunked the ancient myths of letting the measles run its course without any form of medication and urged the people not to follow such steps which was practised in the ancient times.
Only vaccination will give protection from these diseases.
The measles vaccine which was administered during routine immunization will be replaced by MR vaccination and children who have got measles vaccination earlier, should also get MR vaccine without fail, he added.
Explaining the steps taken up by the State Government, the Immunization Officer said that the vaccination programme will be carried out in the schools for two weeks.
From the third week, vaccination will be done at various Leikais/villages.
The left out children, will be vaccinated in the last week of the campaign.
Nandkishwor said that a total of 7.34 lakh children, apart from the 1 percent growth rate will be taken into consideration while preparing the vaccine for distribution.
The State Government has also started setting up cold chain in remote parts of the State as well as various other arrangements, he added.
Dr Pranay Dutta, on the other hand, spoke about MR vaccination strategy while Tahseen Alam spoke on the role of media in the campaign.
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