Workshop to develop district SBCC strategies on RI underway

Kohima, August 31 (MExN): As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the health of the children, Nagaland State government in partnership with UNICEF has undertaken new initiative of Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) to increase the demand for immunisation.  In this regard, a three-day residential state level participatory workshop on developing district SBCC strategies on routine immunization (RI) is being organised from August 31 to September 2 at Hotel Vivor, Kohima.  

Addressing the participants on August 31, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland Dr Yankho Lotha requested them to take full advantage of the workshop and identify the core problem in their respective district and seek for solution during the workshop. He also mentioned that Nagaland’s immunisation coverage is very low as compared to the other States and called upon the health workers for stronger willpower in delivering the health services to the people, especially at the hard to reach areas. Dr. Yankho also expressed gratitude to UNICEF for focusing on Nagaland in their endeavours to improve the immunisation program in the country. 

Dr. Pravin Kumar, Regional Consultant, SBCC, while sharing the objective of the workshop, stressed that it aims to identify the barriers in the people failing to fully immunise their children and find ways to create demand generation for health services among people, especially at the grassroots level. With this initiative, an increase in the demand and coverage is expected in the due course of time, stated a press release from NHM, Nagaland.  

Dr. Pravin accompanied by Dr Subhash, Regional Consultant, RI and Marykali Yepthomi, Consultant, SBCC System Strengthening RI and Child Health, Nagaland and Manipur, will be facilitating the three-day workshop.