While inaugurating the literacy camp of Mission Indradhanush, an immunisation programme, here in the district, State health minister Surendra Singh Negi expressed concern over abysmally low rate of vaccination among the pregnant and the children in Haridwar district where the Centre-sponsored Mission Indradanush is being implemented.
“Haridwar is the lone district in Uttarakhand where Mission Indradanush is being implemented while it is covering 201 districts across the country,” he said. Referring to the dismal rate of vaccination as per the Union health ministry reports, he said around 16,000 children have been left without vaccination in the district at the end of session 2014-15.
“Today’s children are tomorrow’s future. The teachers can play important roles in this matter by raising awareness among the society,” Negi said.
Mission Indradanush was launched in Haridwar in April 2015 and it will continue till July 2015 in four phases across the district.
Chief development officer Ranjana informed that in April, 3495 pregnant and 11428 children below five years had been vaccinated as regards several dreaded and infectious diseases. In May, the figure looked up as 4417 pregnant and 13864 children had been vaccinated across the district, she informed. She added that by the end of July, cent percent target would be achieved. “We would leave no stone unturned to meet the target. Our focus area would be the pregnant from slum areas and those working in the brick kilns ,” she said.
During the programme, MDNHM Neeraj Kherwal, DG Health RP Bhatt, CMO Haridwar Dr Sushma Gupta, state immunisation officer Saroj Naithan and joint magistrate Mangesh Ghildyal were among those present.