The state wide Mission Indradanush – Special Immunization Campaign was today launched here at Sub-District Hospital, Kote-Bhalwal by Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat and Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash.The event synchronized with the nationwide launch of the mission by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at Vadnagar, Gujarat.In this regard, an impressive function was organized by the Department of Family Welfare in the hospital premises and attended by the top functionaries of Health & Medical Education Department and a large number of civil society members.The Ministers administer doses of special immunization to the children of targeted age group in presence of Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Sameer Mattoo, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, Principal GMC, Dr. Sunanda Raina and Director Health Services, Dr. Gurjeet Singh.Also present on the occasion were Chief Medical Officer, Jammu, Dr. Sanjay Turki, Block Medical Officer, Bhalwal, Dr. Manzoor Ahmed and a large number of concerned functionaries and prominent local persons.
Speaking on the occasion, Bali Bhagat said that aim and objective of this special campaign is to accelerate and ensure full immunization coverage in every nook and corner of the State with special emphasis on pockets of low immunization coverage.For the purpose, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has devised an aggressive action plan to achieve the target by 2018, he informed.According to the plan, all States will conduct an Intensified Mission Indradhanush drive for seven working days from 7th day of every month continuously till January, 2018. The first phase of 2017, started today, shall continue for four consecutive months excluding Sundays, holidays and routine immunization days, he added.Bali said under this mission, greater focus will be laid on urban areas, to fill the gaps. “This will be done through mapping of all under-served population in urban areas followed by need-based deployment of necessary staff in these areas. “Mobility support to field staff for deployment to such areas in urban as well as rural areas will be provided as per the needs. All identified areas under Intensified Mission Indradhanush will be monitored by concerned nodal officers and emphasis will be given on integration of Intensified Mission Indradhanush sessions into routine immunization micro plans after completion of each round of the Mission” he informed.He called upon all the functionaries associated with this special mission to work in close coordination to achieve the underlined objective of the flagship programme. He asked the authorities of Family Welfare department to fully mobilize the available resources and personally monitor the progress of the programme to ensure its hundred percent success.
Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash, while underlining the importance of this special programme, urged the functionaries of the Family Welfare to make best efforts to ensure that every targeted child is provided this important vaccination. She apprised that this special dose of immunization will help the children to fight against the dreaded diseases and it is also duty of the parents to get their wards vaccinated and prevented from deadly diseases during the lifetime. In view of the importance of the programme, the Prime Minister of the country himself launched it to create greater awareness amongst the masses, she added.Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Dr. Sameer Mattoo and Dr. Sanjay Turki also highlighted the importance of the programme and measures put in place to achieve the targets. They informed that the programme will continue for next three month i.e. November, December and January from 7th to 13th including the current month i.e. from 8th to 14th to cover 90 percent targeted population. The identified staff will visit door to door to ensure special vaccination to every individual child, they informed.