The Union Government’s pan-India vaccination programme ‘Mission Indradhanush-201’ targeting partially-vaccinated and un-administered children will be launched in Odisha on April 7. In its first phase, ten districts of the State will be part of the programme. Boudh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Rayagada and Kandhamal districts have been identified for the purpose.
A State taskforce for immunisation under the leadership of Health Secretary Arti Ahuja convened a meeting here last week. “Immunisation is necessary to improve the immunity against several diseases and such drives are vital to make the infants healthier,” Ahuja said. A nodal officer will be entrusted with the responsibility to guide and monitor the progress of the mission in their respective districts.
Immunisation will be taken up in areas where children are afflicted with measles and other diseases, ANMs are on leave for more than three months or the posts are lying vacant, immunisation camps have not been held for three consecutive times or turnout is low. The mission targets to achieve full vaccination in these identified areas over a period of two years.
Mission Indradhanush-201 covers 201 districts in 28 States across the country to provide protection against seven life-threatening diseases, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and Hepatitis B. In addition, vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenza type B will be provided in selected districts. Vaccination against tetanus will be provided to the pregnant women.