Jharkhand on Saturday became the first State in the country to introduce the concept of Oral Pentavalent Vaccine to eradicate Rotavirus which is the most common cause of diarrhoeal disease among infants. To mark the World Health Day observed annually on Saturday, Chief Minister, Raghubar Das alongwith senior officials of Department of Health and Family Welfare and a few international organizations formally launched the Rotavirus vaccine at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the presence of health workers.
The CM on the occasion asked the ANM workers, Sahiyas to spread awareness about regular immunization programme among rural populace sponsored and supported by the government with utmost precedence. The CM further added that the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is the most cost effective approach to reduce vaccine preventable diseases and deaths in children.
“Rural people are still ignorant about several health issues. ANM workers, Sahiyas should take the government schemes to the last person as human resources are the most valuable asset and must be saved at any cost. Undoubtedly, Malnutrition, Diarrhea and Pneumonia are the biggest concerns which need to be addressed with priority. Only with the collective efforts of all, status of health services can be improved,” the CM said.
Blaming the opponents, the CM further added that due to political unrest, the State could not make progress on two major fronts-Health and Education, however, the ruling government is committed to bring change as efforts are being made for creating ‘Educated Jharkhand, Healthy Jharkhand and Happy Jharkhand’.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nidhi Khare, said, “After a rigorous training programme of ANM workers, the department has launched the Rotavirus vaccine. The Rotavirus vaccine will be available for free of cost at all government medical colleges and hospitals. To lessen the disease burden, UIP provides vaccination against ten vaccine preventable childhood diseases.”
Notably, the Rotavirus vaccine was introduced in the UIP to protect children against diarrhoea caused by Rotavirus and is one of most cost effective measures. According to the experts, 2.5 ml of the vaccine is administered orally with an oral syringe. Three doses of rotavirus are administered to a child at 1.5 months, 2.5 months and 3.5 months of age along with the other scheduled vaccines.
According to the experts, the effectiveness of Rotavirus vaccines against severe diarrhoea in India ranges from 40 to 60 percent. According to the reports, Rotavirus diarrhoea is singularly responsible for up to 40 percent of all moderate to severe diarrhoea cases in India.
Taking up this year’s World Health Day- 2018 theme ‘Universal Health Coverage (UHC) – Everyone, Everywhere’ several International partners United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, John Snow, Inc (JSI) have collaborated with the State government to popularize this vaccine among one and all.
Besides the formal launch of Rotavirus vaccine, a panel discussion, rally, quiz competition and other activities were organized by the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine - RIMS to mark the occasion focusing on importance of UHC.
Mission Director (National Health Mission- GoJ), Kripananda Jha, Director (RIMS), Dr. RK Srivastava, Director-in-Chief (Health), Dr. Sumant Mishra, UNICEF – State Head, Madhulika Jonathan, JSCPCR Chairperson, Arti Kujur along with Ranchi MP, Ramtahal Choudhary, Kanke MLA, Jitu Charan Ram were present on the occasion. Jharkhand is the tenth State in India to introduce Rotavirus vaccine.