Nagaland gets green signal for Measles – Rubella campaign

Our Correspondent
Kohima, September 15 (EMN): A national team of assessors for the state-wide Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC) has given the green signal to the state and the campaign will be launched on October 3, provided all the critical activities are completed on time.
Dr. Debashish Roy, WHO India and team leader of the national monitoring team, during the debriefing programme on Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign at IDSP Conference Hall, Kohima presented the key findings and recommendations of preparedness assessment for MRVC which the team has collected over the last few days for the entire state based on different parameters.

He stated that the team has visited eight districts in a span of five days and noted the status of district preparedness assessment in eight districts namely Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung, Dimapur, Peren, Tuensang, Zunheboto and Mon, amounting to the total area coverage of 73% of the state.

During the monitoring and assessment in the district level, the team interacted with the paediatricians serving in CHCs, PHCs and UMCs in addition to visitation of religious leaders, Indian Reserve Battalion, Assam Rifles and NEEPCO run schools.

He also stated that the DCs were actively involved in the campaign and district level officials were found to be committed and helpful; State and district level workshops were completed on time and there is an adequate human resources available to carry out the campaign. Good coordination was also found between the government and partner agencies such as UNICEF, UNDP and WHO.

Dr. Debashish Roy, also mentioned about the good teamwork seen at the district and sub district level with the active involvement of CMOs, Deputy CMOs, DIOs, DPM, BPM and others. He however added that the assessment teams found out that districts have received meagre funds and some section of health staffs were demotivated due to non receipt of salaries for several months.

He also informed that a state media sensitization workshop & religious leaders group sensitization has been fixed for 25th September 2018 in Kohima. He also mentioned that the District Task Force meetings & Core group meetings had conducted in all the districts.

At the same time, he also recommended for review preparations with DCs through Video Conferencing and certification of readiness by DC of each district before launching MR Campaign; Sensitisation of all government and private doctors on MR Campaign and make video messages of popular pediatricians and religious leaders to spread the message about the importance of MRVC on various social media platforms.

Disbursement of remaining funds to blocks with clear guidelines as soon as received; distribution of logistics and IEC materials to facilities as soon as they are received at district; special emphasis on urban planning at Dimapur & Kohima engaging Manila Arogya Samitis, were also some recommendations made by the assessment teams to the state medical officials during the debriefing session.

Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, I. Himato Zhimomi thanked the national team for touring all the districts and assessing the response of the people despite all the hardships and trouble caused by pathetic road conditions and landslides due to inclement weather.

He urged all the concerned departments to be active in their own respective roles and extend full cooperation with the medical department in order to achieve the set target.

It may be mentioned that the national team MRVC assessors Were also accompanied by Siddartha Shrestha, Chief of Communication for Development, UNICEF.

Bikers in Mkg. ride for Measles and Rubella vaccination

More than 44 riders from Mokokchung Motorcycle Association and Bull Knight formed a cavalcade on the streets of Mokokchung town and nearby villages in support of Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign on Satruday.

The riders were flagged off in the morning covering strategic locations around the town and nearby villages of Chuchuyimlang, Mokokchung and Ungma to spread awareness to the people about the contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash (Measles and Rubella).

The riders culminated their day-long campaign at Imkongmeren Sports Complex. The event was organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department in collaboration with the two motorcycle rider’s associations.