DFP: Workshop held on Government's flagship programmes
Improving immunisation, ending TB by 2025, early detection of leprosy on agenda
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 15 2017: The regio-nal orientation workshop for field officers of the Directorate of Field Publicity, Nagaland and Manipur Region on the flagship programmes of the Integrated Campaign on Mis-sion Indradhanush, Mission Parivar Vikas, Tubercolosis and Leprosy was held today at the Manipur Press Club .

The campaign was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar attended as chief guest in the event .

Speaking on the occasion, Jayentakumar stated it is the Government’s responsibility to work for the State’s welfare and ensure the people’s wellbeing.

It is also their indispensable responsibility to ensure that the people are free from illnesses .

The minister said that doctors and nurses have not been able to go to remote areas especially in the hills because of transportation and communication issues.

He also remarked on the roles played by the Family and Social Welfare Departments .

Later, while giving the keynote address, Mangjan-gam Touthang, IIS, Regional Director, DFP (N&M) elaborated that the Government of India is aiming to reach each and every child under two years of age and all the pregnant women who had been left uncovered under routine immunisation processes thro-ugh this programme .

The special drive will focus on improving immunisa- tion coverage in select districts and cities to ensure full immunisation to more than 90% by December 2018 and the achievement of full immunisation under Mission In- dradhanush to at least 90% coverage by 2020 or earlier, Touthang said .

With the launch of Intensified Mission Indradhanush, achievement of the target has now been advanced, he said while adding that with a sharpened focus on high priority districts and urban areas, under IMI, four consecutive immunisation rounds have been conducted for 7 days in 173 districts � 121 districts and 17 cities in 16 states and 52 districts in 8 North Eastern states � every month between October 2017 and January 2018 .

M Touthang continued that the Government has also launched a new family planning initiative in July this year christened as 'Mission Pari-vas Vikas', which will focus on 146 high fertility districts in 7 states with high total fertility rate .

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), he informed India accounted for the largest number of cases of leprosy at 60% of the global new cases reported among 136 countries during 2015.With a view to eliminating leprosy from the country, a three-pronged strategy has been adopted for early detection of leprosy cases in the community during 2016-17 .

While stating the Government is committed to end TB by 2025 and it is a priority to ensure affordable and quality healthcare, Touthang said the success of the Government's programmes largely depends on people's participation.

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