Manipur launches Intensified Mission Indradhanush

Our Correspondent Imphal, Oct. 8 (EMN): Manipur state family welfare department is targeting to immunise 409 babies (0-2 years) and 159 pregnant women in Tamenglong district (including Noney) across 48 vaccination centres to prevent from transferable deathly diseases during the four month ‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)’ which was formally launched in Imphal this morning. In the ongoing IMI which is scheduled to continue till January 2018, the department targets to immunise a total of 3104 babies(0-2 years) and 936 pregnant women living in Churachandpur (including Pherzawl), Chandel (including Tengnoupal), Tamenglong(including Noney) and Ukhrul districts by utilising 1120 Nurses, ASHA and Anganwadi workers across 369 vaccination sites. A formal launching session of the IMI was held at state family welfare department premises in the heart of Imphal town with Health & Family welfare minister L Jayentakumar Singh as the chief guest on Sunday. Parliamentary Secretary (Health & Family welfare) S Subhaschandra, Commissioner(Health) Sumant Singh, Director Family Welfare K Rajo who is also the in charge of state health services also attended the launching session.Lauding the state health services in making Manipur as one of most successful state in implementing centre’s healthcare activities in the country, Health minister Jayentakumar while addressing the gathering said the IMI is very important in protecting our children who are backbone of our future society, from different diseases. In his speech, Director Family Welfare K Rajo said “the IMI vaccination will help the children from preventing seven diseases such as Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Childhood Tuberculosis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Measles.” Parliamentary Secretary (Health & Family welfare) Subhaschandra also spoke on the occasion.Necessary equipments and medicines have been kept at the respective areas. Informing that supporting staffs from district heath care centres will be engaged for 7 PHSCs including 3 in Ukhrul, 2 in Churachandpur, 1 each in Chandel and Tamenglong which have no nurses, State nodal office Dr Th Nandakishwor said, “We’re targeting cent percent vaccination this time as the department targets to cover 50,000 babies this year against last year’s 45,000.” “The Pentavalent Vaccination programme will be conducted during the IMI at the interior areas of the said districts by utilising 1120 Nurses, ASHA and Anganwadi workers across 369 vaccination sites (including 153 in Churachandpur and 48 in Tamenglong districts),” Nandakishwor said. “Besides mobile centres at the interior villages, 30 Public Health Centres and 148 Public Health Sub-Centres(PHSC) and their respective support staffs will be utilised during the IMI.”