Dimapur, July 16 (EMN): The Wokha district health authorities conducted a meeting on July 16 in the deputy commissioner’s official chamber to discuss matter concerning immunisation and application of the Rotavirus vaccine which is scheduled to be conducted in the last week of July 2019.
The government publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR), offered updates on Tuesday about the programme.
For successful implementation of the programme Dr. Khelito Zhimomi informed that a district level training programme for all medical officers and programme officers had been completed since June 2019.
Block level training programmes for accredited social health activists, Anganwadi workers, and Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery workers, among others, have been completed too, the IPR stated.
‘Massive campaigns at the village levels are going on and logistic equipments and human resources are kept ready for implementation in the district,’ the updates stated. Zhimomi informed that to strengthen the campaign, a house-to-house survey was underway too.
The deputy commissioner of Wokha district and the chairman of the district task force for immunisation, Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon also addressed the event. The administrator appealed to all the ‘line departments,’ stakeholders, members of non-governmental organisations, and churches to extend cooperation and support in promoting the cause of the campaign and for its success.
The deputy commissioner informed that the district health society’s meeting will be conducted on August 5, the update stated.
The Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhoea in children which may lead to hospitalisation and even death. In India, available data shows rotavirus is responsible for nearly 40% of moderate to severe diarrhoea in children below five years of age, amounting to 8.72 lakh hospitalization, 32.7 lakh outpatient visit and 78.000 deaths annually.
Apart from the burden of death due to rotavirus diarrhoea, it can also cause long-term nutritional complications and loss of cognitive development potential.
In recognition of the global rotavirus disease burden, world Health Organisation has recommended inclusion of RVV in National Immunisation programmes of all the countries.
Till date, 96 countries have introduced RVV and in India 11 States stared in the 1st phase since 2016. Our State Nagaland is preparing to launch the RVV in the end of July 2019. RVV will be given at 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks.
