Odisha vaccinates over 1 crore children in 19 days under Measles-Rubella campaign
By Express News Service | Published: 26th February 2018 03:55 PM |
Last Updated: 26th February 2018 03:55 PM | A+A A- |
BHUBANESWAR: Even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) expresses concern over re-occurrence of measles in Europe which claimed 35 lives last year, Odisha has created a record of sorts by vaccinating 1 crore children in flat 19 vaccination days under its Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign.
The campaign started on January 29, and by February 26, the total number of children covered stood at 1.06 crore. On holidays, MR vaccination is not taken up.
The MR vaccination campaign targets children in the age group of nine months and 15 years. The state government has set a target of vaccinating 1.13 crore children under the campaign which will continue till March 26.
The Health and Family Welfare Department tweeted its achievement on Monday. “1 crore children covered under #MRVaccination in Odisha in just 28 days. The number says it all. With sheer pace and magnitude of efforts, #Odisha is showing the way to the country & world for #NoChildLeftOut,” a post by @HFWOdisha said
In the first phase, the school-level campaign was taken up which covered the over 1.06 crore students. The department will now take the vaccination programme to communities so that children under nine months, those not in the school going age and drop-outs can be covered.
The state government mobilised its grassroot health workers to reach the nook and cranny of the state to ensure coverage. At least 47,689 ASHA workers, 71,129 Anganwadi workers, 8,665 health workers were tapped by the government to run the programme. This health workforce was monitored by 2,278 nodal officers and 70 state nodal officers. At least five other administrative departments were also brought on board to make the MR vaccination campaign successful.
The MR vaccination campaign in India assumes importance as Europe saw a spurt in measles incidence last year. At least 21,315 cases were reported apart from five deaths which were termed as unacceptable by WHO. In Europe, vaccination is an optional system.
