“State and Central Governments are committed to reduce child mortality and morbidity by achieving the targets under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) “,this was reiterated by the Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Choudhary Lal Singh after inaugurating one-day workshop on Mission Indradanush at Directorate of Family Welfare office at Nagrota today.Secretary Health and Medical Education Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Raj Sharma, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Mission Director NHM Dr. Mohan Singh and other senior officers of Health Department were present on the occasion.
Addressing the participants, the Minister said that Mission Indradhanush is a special drive to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under Universal Immunization Program to achieve more than 90% immunization coverage in the country. He informed that Phase-I of Mission Indradhanush targeted 201 high focused districts with four rounds of activity planned between April, 2015 to July, 2015which included five districts of Jammu province included Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri,The Minister also informed that Phase-II of Mission Indradhanush will be launched on October 07, 2015 and target 297 medium focus districts in 35 States including six districts from Jammu and Kashmir that is Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kulgam, Kupwara and Jammu with four rounds of activity planned between October 2015 and January 2016. He said this initiative will eventually close immunity gaps and strengthen immunization coverage. He asked for proper sensitization about the programmes so that the desired targets are achieved.
Later, Choudhary Lal Singh also chaired a meeting of officers of Health and Family Welfare at Conference hall of Directorate of Family Welfare and issued a directive over use of ambulances by officers of Health and Medical Education departments.Showing concern over the issue of use of ambulances by some field officers, the Minister directed that ambulances should not be put to any other use apart from ferrying the patients adding that strict action would be taken in case any complaint is reported in this regard. He said patient care is the priority and the concerned should put in dedicated efforts to provide best medicare to the patients.