100% vaccination of left out children, pregnant females in Kupwara, Baramulla districts by March, 2020

JAMMU: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee for Immunization to review the status of implementation of Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) – 2.0 to ensure that no child suffers from any vaccine-preventable disease.

Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Secretary, Tribal Affairs, DIG, Jammu, Mission Director NHM, J&K, Director Information, J&K, Mission Director ICDS, J&K, Director School Education, Kashmir, Director School Education, Jammu, Director Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, J&K, Director Health Services, Jammu, Surveillance Medical Officer WHO and other senior officers attended the meeting. IGP, Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, and Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)-1.0 was launched in October-2017 to reach every child under two years of age and those pregnant women as have been left uncovered under the routine immunization programme.

The IMI 2.0 aims to achieve target of full immunization coverage in 272 districts in 27 States / UTs including districts of Baramulla and Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. The focus is on left-outs, dropouts, and hard to reach areas. Pertinently, Baramulla has 98% immunization coverage and Kupwara 94%.

The immunization activity is being carried out in four rounds spread over 7 working days excluding the Routine Immunization (RI) days, Sundays and holidays. The first round of the IMI-2.0 was launched on 2nd December (Monday), 2019 in Kupwara and Baramulla districts with100% target achieved.  The 2nd round will be launched on 6th January (Monday), 2020, 3rd round on 3rd February (Monday),  2020 and fourth and final round on 2nd March(Monday), 2020.

During the 1st round launched on 2nd December, 2019, out of the target of 958 children and 150 pregnant females, 1041 children and 153 pregnant females were vaccinated in District Kupwara. Similarly, out of the target of 567 children and 119 pregnant females, 586 children and 120 pregnant females were vaccinated in District Baramulla.

The programme, which will be completed by March 2020, is being supported by various departments including Social Welfare, School Education, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Housing & Urban Development, Youth Service & Sports, Police, CRPF, NCC among others.  The program aims to escalate efforts to achieve the goal of attaining 90% national immunization coverage across India.

 Chief Secretary appreciated the strenuous efforts of the Health Department and the inter-departmental teams for their efficient and effective coordination in achieving 100% targets in the first round in Baramulla and Kupwara districts. He complimented the Health & Medical Education Department for its untiring efforts on account of which Jammu & Kashmir stands 3rd in the country in full immunization coverage after Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Chief Secretary stressed on accomplishment of the targets of each round. He directed DCs of Kupwara and Baramulla to lay special emphasis on Kalaroos, Tangdhar, Trehgam and Kupwara blocks in District Kupwara and Kreeri, Pattan, Sheeri and Uri blocks in District Baramulla besides on the children of floating population including nomads, labourers and employees.

Chief Secretary exhorted the Health & Education Department to launch a sustained publicity campaign regarding the mission in schools and through electronic and print media to achieve the target.

Chief Secretary called upon DCs to deepen and synergize the efforts of immunization in their districts through constant monitoring and review so as to reduce maternal and child mortality.