Govt to inoculate over 3.80 lakh pregnant women, kids: Director
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 04 2023: For the upcoming Intensified Mission Indrad-hanush (IMI) 5.0 set to commence on August 7 in three phases, the government has set a target to inoculate 46,561 pregnant women and 3,48,023 children till five years of age, informed State Mission director Dr N Somorjit.

Addressing the media at the Medical Directorate, Lamphelpat on Friday, Dr Somorjit stated that IMI 5.0 is a catch-up programme of the central government through Health Services and Family Welfare Services for pregnant women and children (0-5 years) left behind during the routine immunisation or failed to receive the required dosage.

He then emphasized the need for 100 per cent vaccination for the mentioned groups to stay protected from 12 different kinds of disease.

He continued that in Manipur's context, the state has reached around 80 present of the full immunisation coverage i.e., administration of first measles dosage for children one years old and above, contrary to the required 90 per cent under MHFW guidelines.

While target for measles rubella vaccine is around 95 per cent, the state has inoculated around 74 per cent only.

As the state is yet to fulfil the target for the 11 vaccines, IMI 5.0 is being taken up as a catch-up programme.

He then informed that IMI 5.0 will be conducted in three rounds, with the first from August 7-12, second round in September 11-16 and the third round from October 9-14 .

The inoculations will be carried out in government-mandated sites, relief camps and remote areas.

As such, he urged all pregnant women and children (0-5 years) to avail the service.

Stating that there will be some groups who would be resistant to vaccines, Dr Somorjit said that these groups are not truly resistant to vaccines but lack awareness.

In this regard, heath service workers are trying to spread awareness, he added and urged the media to help disseminate real information backed by science and proven by numerous studies.

Meanwhile, the people are aware of the fourth phase IMI, which was conducted earlier.

Although some districts are presently highly sensitive due to the conflict, the vaccines will still be dispatched.

Even if there is manpower shortage in the said locations, the programme will still be carried out, he said and appealed to the people to participate in the state.

State Immunisation officer Dr Chambo, who also attended the press meet, said that although the government is facing some difficulties due to the unrest situation, it will try to its level best to achieve the target for IMI 5.0 .

The district MOs and related officials have been provided with the required training and further block level training will be conducted in the districts.

While there is a need to properly train the staff as the programme is to be digitised, there is difficulty in conducting trainings in every district due to the prevailing situation.

As such, a pilot project was taken up and training provided for Imphal West and Kakching districts, the reorientation of which would be conducted soon.

Efforts are also on to fill in the roles of displaced health workers, he conveyed.

Informing that details of un-vaccinated and missing dosage groups will be looked into and recorded, Dr Chambo said that the district officials have been instructed to conduct 100 per cent head count for the programme.

Efforts are being made with the DC and administrative officers concerned to make the programme a success.

Expressing that the target would be 100 per cent complete if ASHAs can conduct proper head count at block level, he stated that the programme could be extended if the situation calls for it.

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