Campaign to boost eradication of measles, rubella cases

Bhubaneswar: In a major initiative, health minister Mukesh Mahaling on Tuesday launched a comprehensive information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to accelerate the state's measles and rubella (MR) elimination programme.
The launch, coinciding with ‘World Immunisation Week', marks a significant step toward achieving the state's goal of eliminating the diseases by 2026, in line with national targets.
Speaking at the launch event, Mahaling highlighted Odisha's achievement in immunisation coverage. "Our state leads the nation with 90.5% full immunisation coverage, as per the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5)," he said.
The initiative brings together multiple govt departments, including health and family welfare, women and child development, and school and mass education, among others, to ensure comprehensive implementation at state, district and block levels.
"Immunising children and pregnant women remains our topmost priority. It is the most cost-effective and life-saving public health intervention," said Mahaling.
The minister called for widespread community participation, urging involvement from parents, Ayushman Arogya mandirs, members of panchayati raj institutions, NGOs and self-help groups to create grassroots awareness about immunisation.
The campaign launch also celebrated India's previous immunisation successes, including smallpox eradication (1977), polio-free status (2014), and elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus (2015).
This year's World Immunization Week, observed from April 24-30, will be observed on the theme ‘Immunisation for all is humanly possible'.