State measles- rubella vaccination campaign workshop underway in Kohima
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 18
A three day programme for the state measles- rubella vaccination campaign workshop and training of trainers Nagaland got underway here today at at Hotel De Oriental Grand, Kohima.
Representatives from UNICEF, WHO and UNDP assured to extend their fullest support towards the success of the campaign in Nagaland.
I. Himato Zhimomi, Commissioner & Secretary Health & Family Welfare thanked all the officers from Government of India and various other departments from Government of Nagaland for their cooperation and assured all possible help from the state government for the success of the campaign.
He stressed on the need to work in war footing and mentioned that the department will ensure that no child will be left without immunization in Nagaland.
He sought the cooperation from the church, NGO and appealed to all the trainers to take the workshop seriously as they will be the one who will be working at field level.
He also urged the doctors specially in the border areas how to tackle and prevent the spread of the disease as there are many internationally border areas where the movement from the other country like Myanmar side goes without much restriction.
Dr. Vikiye Medikhru, director of Health in his opening remarks informed that India is committed to eliminate measles and to control rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2020 and added that to achieve this goal measles and rubella (MR) campaign is being launched in the country covering all children from 9 months to below 15 years age group and mentioned that both diseases can only be prevented through vaccination.
He informed the gathering that this campaign will be the largest ever measles rubella campaign launched in the world and about 41 crore children in India will be covered under this campaign.
The Director stated that Nagaland has decided to vaccinate the children of the state it has an estimate target population for Nagaland is around 7 lakhs.
The campaign for Nagaland will be launched in October this year. He added that this is a onetime campaign and 35% population of the state and further mentioned that 2/3 of the target beneficiaries are school going children hence he sought the participation and cooperation of all Government, Private schools.
State Expanded Programme Immunization Officer, Dr. V. Kire highlighted the objectives and methodology of Nagaland state measles and rubella vaccination campaign which is to train and orient key state and district programme managers on all operational components for planning and implementing the MR vaccination and prepare a poll of master trainers for conducting district workshop and to train all the medical officers in the state.
She ensured quality vaccinators training and orientation of all health link workers on safe injection practice and effective social mobilization and added that the expected outcomes of the workshop of the participations should be the key nodal resource person for district level planning guide district programme managers to initiate micro planning and act as Block level Trainers, Monitor quality of district and sub-districts level training and train and orient education department officers.
A power point presentation on broad understanding of the MR campaign strategy was presented by Dr. P. Haldar, DC (Imm), MoHFW, Government of India.
He said the target is 100% coverage and evaluated coverage must be more than 95% to make it a successful campaign.
He said a successful campaign will ensure elimination of measles and control rubella.
Team Lead, East, WHO India Dr. Debasish Roy was the chairperson of the inaugural programme.
Altogether 71 doctors from Directorate of Health & Family Welfare and officials from other department are attending the 3 day programme.
Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine which provides protection from measles and rubella will be introduced nationwide through campaign in schools and outreach sessions. This will be followed by inclusion of MR vaccine in Routine Immunization. It is important that all children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years get the MR vaccine.
Shot irrespective of the immunization status for measles/rubella (whether they have been vaccinated before with MMR/MR vaccine or not).
For measles elimination and rubella control, children in the age group from 9 months to les 15 years need to be immunized to knock out the diseases.
All children from 9 months to 15 years must get vaccinated. This vaccine will be given in all schools, community sessions, Anganwadi centers and government health centers.
MR and Measles vaccine is very safe and does not cause any severe side effects. The children will be vaccinated by a trained health worker from Health & Family Welfare Department Government of Nagaland.
