EXPERTS CALL FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF IMMUNISATION AFTER MISSING CASES OF VACCINATION FOUND IN VILLAGES

img_0427Jaipur, Dec. 14, 2016. Experts attached to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Rajasthan Government’s Medical and Health Department and Lok Samvad Sansthan have called for complete coverage of children under immunisation programme in Rajasthan after several missing cases of vaccination were found in a series of onsite demonstrations on routine immunisation organised in small towns and villages across the state.
Though the present coverage of immunisation in the state is 77.6 per cent, there is an inequitable distribution among different locations and groups, said the participants in the workshops. There are large number of beneficiaries which are either not reached (left out) or not tracked for full immunization. In order to improve immunization coverage and performance, campaign through orientation and onsite demonstration for media on routine immunization and awareness through street/nuked plays conducted by artistes focusing on unreached and under reached areas and underserved populations, tribal and migrant population were appreciated..
At the latest event organised at Dabar Kalan village in Dausa district last week, Reproductive and Child Health Officer Dr. Ramphool Meena pointed out that the villagers were generally abstaining from getting their children vaccinated against measles. He said this had led to to serious health-related complications later in their lives.
The series of programmes was organised jointly by UNICEF and Jaipur-based Lok Samvad Sansthan. They were held in Jaipur, Teja Ka Vaas village in Udaipur district, Gundpur village in Alwar district, Amrapura village in Karauli district and Dabar Kalan village in Dausa districts.
Mr. S.K. Garg, Project Director, State Immunisation Programme, said the Medical and Health Department was grappling with the challenge posed by the drop-out rate of 19 per cent. Drop-outs in immunisation programme are children who receive one or two vaccines, but do not complete the course of full vaccination. He said that although Rajasthan is one of the few states in the country, which have shown an increasing trend in evaluated immunization coverage.
UNICEF Heatlh Expert Dr. Anil Agrawal pointed out that since 2008, 80 per cent of the coverage of the routine immunisation programme has been in the tribal-dominated regions and the State Government’s outreach initiatives are making a significant impact. He said that such activities would help improve the penetration of routine immunization programmes in the most remote areas through an effective network of informed journalists. According to senior journalist Mr. Ashok Chturvedi, who spoke at the workshop in Jaipur, the health workers should regularly approach both the print and electronic media to generate awareness among the public.
Lok Samvad Sansthan secretary Mr. Kalyan Singh Kothari said serious efforts were required to achieve the goals of disease elimination, smooth introduction of new vaccines across an expanded life cycle, increased immunisation coverage and reduced mortality in the State.
The interactive participation of people attending the programme at Teja Ka Vaas village in Kotra block of Udaipur district was very impressive. People from among the audience came forward to narrate their personal experiences and explained the significance of routine immunisation from their own perspective.
While the Teja Ka Vaas Sarpanch, Mr. Anand Ram Garasia, laid emphasis on getting full benefits of the Government’s scheme in the health care sector, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Ms. Roshni felt that the health standards of children could improve if people take a pledge to bring their children for vaccination strictly in accordance with the dates given on their vaccination cards.
The street plays gave the message for getting all the seven essential vaccines for children during their first five years. Artistes laid emphasis on recognition of routine immunisation as a fundamental platform which must be directly supported and reinforced.

Kalyan Singh Kothari
Media Consultant
Mobile: 9414047744

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