Kohima, October 7 (MExN): The Department of Health and Family Welfare will be launching ‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush’ campaign on October 9. The campaign is aimed at providing vaccines for children below 2 years of age and pregnant women who have missed out routine vaccination.
According to the UIP division under NRHM, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland in the earlier Mission Indradhanush campaigns, persistent gaps were found with regard to immunization coverage in urban areas and areas with poor mobilization of targeted beneficiaries. In accordance with the Union health ministry, the goal of Intensified Mission Indradhanush is to accelerate the coverage and achieve 90% full immunization coverage by December 2018 and sustain thereafter through Routine Immunization.
All 11 districts will be conducting the IMI campaign in areas which have been selected on the basis of poor routine immunization coverage with special focus on urban areas, hard to reach areas and areas with migratory population. Learning from the experiences of past MI campaigns, the department has taken a more proactive approach in ensuring better convergence with other line departments viz. the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Education Department. The ICDS and Education departments provide crucial support by creating awareness on the importance of immunization and generating demand. The Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Nagaland Christian Revival Church and Catholic Association have also been included as partners in immunization to support the health department in promoting positive messages about immunization.
There will be effective programme oversight through State Task Force meetings and District Task Force meetings chaired by Principal Secretary (H&FW) and DCs respectively. The Chief Secretary has been reviewing the progress of the program through the State Steering Committee meeting. There will also be intensive monitoring of the campaign by state-level health officials and development partners (WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, RRC).
All districts have completed a head count survey of children below 2 years and pregnant women in preparation for IMI campaign. The immunization sessions and mobilization of beneficiaries will be planned on the basis of the Due List of children and pregnant women who are due for vaccines. The department will ensure that there will be better data management of coverage indicators since the campaign is being planned according to the actual head count.
Under IMI, around 20093 children below 2 years and 2916 Pregnant women will be immunized through 809 immunization sessions planned across the state. IMI is a week-long campaign that will continue for 4 months starting from October 9, 2017.
