Dimapur, Sep. 23 (EMN): Media sensitization workshop on Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMD) for northeast states was held at Hotel Shoolin Grand, Guwahati on Saturday. The event is organized by Regional Resource Centre for North-East states (FRC-NE) and UNICEF.
Dr. Bamin Tada, Director RRC-NE in his keynote address said five states from Northeast are below the national average of 62 percent highlighting about the status of routine Immunization in the North-East with Sikkim the highest coverage at 83 percent and Nagaland is the lowest in the region at 35 percent from seven states.
In this regard, the director encourages the media persons to play a key role in sensitizing communities with accurate and timely information on the importance of achieving full immunization stating that the major concern in the Northeast region is the lack of awareness among the people.
It was informed that seven states in Northeast India will launch Mission Indradhanush, a flagship immunization scheme of the Government of India, from Oct.7, 2017. Four immunization rounds will be conducted for 7 working days in 187 districts -- 118 districts in 16 high priority states, 17 urban areas and 52 north-eastern districts (under which 11 district are from Nagaland) -- every month between October 2017 and January 2018.
Dr. C. Ravichandran, Health Specialist for North-East, UNICEF in his discussion highlighted the importance of vaccination. He also discussed on the objectives of the IMI and how it improves on Mission Indradhanush. The first four phases of Mission Indradhanush have been completed in 528 districts across the country. More than 2.47 crone children and around 67 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinated under Mission Indradhanush so far.
Dr Maulik, Health Officer for NE States, UNICEF said intensified drive are focusing on intervention to reach 90% full immunization coverage by December 2018 in identified districts and urban cities. IMI aims to cover children and pregnant women who have missed out on routine dose of immunization through focused effort and system immunization drives said Dr Maulik.In order to make IMI a greater success, 11 other ministries/departments are coming together to support the immunization drives including the media. While the convergence of ground level workers of various departments like ASHA, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, Zila preraks under NULM, self-help groups will be ensured for successful implementation of such programme.
During a session on ‘role of media in Routine Immunization’ by Tahseen Alan, Communication Officer, UNICEF Assam stressed on the need for orientation programs relating to health issues and how to cover those related news based on the guidelines. The workshop was attended by journalists and editors, representatives from Directorate of Information and Public Relation- and official from the department of Health from all seven state (Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland), representatives from UNICEF and RCC-NE were also present in the workshop
