The district chapter of the National Health Mission (NHM), in association with the district administration, has evolved a five-point campaign to make Ernakulam “healthy”.
The programme has been devised to address some key health issues in the district by involving the public and taking it up as a campaign along with government departments.
‘Immunise Ernakulam’ is the first such programme evolved under ‘Unite for Healthy Ernakulam’, to provide the first protective cover for children in order to raise immunity against deadly diseases. The measles-rubella vaccination programme that will begin on October 3 has been included in the campaign. Waste management is another campaign that has been taken up to keep communicable diseases away.
Identifying the menace of tuberculosis, the NHM has taken up the challenge to make the district free of tuberculosis under the campaign. The national tuberculosis eradication programme aims to achieve its target by 2025. The NHM unit has roped in 44 private health care centres to be part of the campaign.
The campaign has got under way in schools, trying to create an environment in which children imbibe healthy habits.
The Athithi Devo Bhava campaign aims to make migrant workers feel at home and to provide them more acceptance in the State. Medical camps for workers and provision of a hygienic environment for them are part of the campaign.