Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 12 2010:
Hindrances came in the way of taking up Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Programme in the state when underground activists snatched away 'auto disable syringes' to be used in the programme.
The snatching away of the syringes led to the deferment of the vaccination programme which was scheduled to be launched from today.
Family Welfare Department today issued a notification regarding that postponement of the launching of the programme citing the reason as 'due to an unavoidable circumstance'.
A highly reliable source said that the programme which targeted mass vaccination of children for prevention from Japanese Encephalitis was set to be launched today in four valley districts and one hill district of the state.
Vaccine for the programme was already with the family welfare department.
The auto disable (AD) syringes to be used in the programme was procured from New Delhi.
However, the truck transporting the syringes has been hijacked by suspected UGs on the way after crossing Mao for Imphal on NH-39, somewhere at Tadubi area in Senapati district.
The matter of the hijacking came to light when the truck failed to arrive at Imphal even as officials of the family welfare department were informed that the truck was heading towards Imphal.
Official searched for the trucks for three days.
So far, there are no reports of a complaint having been lodged with the police regarding the missing truck.
Apart from this, it could not be confirmed whether the truck had actually been released.
The AD syringes was imported from China by the state family welfare department through an NGO in consultation with the Union health ministry.
A source from the family welfare department said that the responsibility of delivery of the item from New Delhi to Imphal lies with the Central government and the NGO importing the item.
The department is to receive it only at Imphal.
They are not the authority for lodging a complaint with the police about the hijacking, it maintained.
The AD syringes is not similar to that of ordinary syringes in use.
The WHO defines it as syringes that are automatically rendered unusable after having delivered a prescribed dose of vaccine.
With Manipur identified as one of the states in the country with a high prevalence of Japanese Encephalitis, the mass vaccination programme was being taken up.
The programme was to be taken up first in five districts, Imphal east, Imphal west, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Chandel district.
The programme is targeting to vaccinate 50,000 children across these five districts.
Hijacking of vehicles transporting life saving drugs and healthcare related kits procured from outside the state is not a new phenomenon on NH-39 .
In recent times too, there was an instance of hijacking three vehicles carrying life saving drugs belonging to NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) on this highway.