National Health Mission (Jharkhand) is all set to conduct life saving mission for infants up to two years and pregnant women in two districts of State from October 10 in State. NHM, Jharkhand, Mission Directo,r Kripa Nand Jha said on Fridaythat the mission which is scheduled to run till January 7 next year in Jharkhand targets vaccination of already identified 10,012 infants and 2,703 pregnant women in Giridih and 7,853 infants in same age group and 3,385 pregnant women to provide cover from seven deadly diseases widely claiming lives of infants in country.
“These two districts from State are among 169 districts from 16 states of country where Saghan Mission Indradhanush is to be conducted to save lives of those kids who have not been covered with early age vaccination due to various reasons. This is among one of the most ambitious programmes of the Centre in which it has targeted covering up at least 90 per cent infants up to two years from seven deadly diseases named Tuberculosis, Whopping Cough, Hepatitis-B, Tetanus, Pneumonia, Brain Fever and Measles by December 2018,” said Jha at RCH, Namkum premises on Friday.
Notably, the Government of India is also launching a new vaccination campaign against Measles and Rubella diseases named Measles Rubella (MR2) Campaign-2018 in Jharkhand from April 2018 for children of age group between nine months and 15 years. After the campaign of vaccinating targeted children is over, this vaccine will replace single Measles vaccine in existing vaccination chain.
Jha added that the existing manpower in form of community health workers, ANMs, Sahiyas and others were capable enough to conduct mission in two districts. “However, we have provided added training in sync with requirements of the mission to 7,500 workers in these two districts under BRIDGE (Boosting Routine Immunization Demand Generation) programme,” added Jha.
Health Services Director-in-Chief Sumant Mishra said on the occasion that the government has been conducting whole lot of programmes to improve health services in State and most of them have starting bearing fruits as well. “We have headed towards a Health and Happy Jharkhand, and many of our health-related indices have started reflecting healthy signs. However, this effort seeks help from every stakeholder,” said Mishra where all the senior officials of Health Directorate and NHM (Jharkhand) other than noted doctors were present.
Pointing towards one of the important myths related to vaccination, Jha said that one should never take mild to moderate, or may be severe in rare cases, fever after vaccination seriously.
“Contrary to this, fever only indicates that the vaccine has started working on the body. So, if an infant acquires fever after vaccination, I shall call it good,” said Jha.