184 districts to benefit from child immunisation programme

In an effort to check child deaths due to preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, the central government has launched a special immunisation week to reach out to 184 high-risk districts.

By: Admin | | Published: April 29, 2013 7:06 pm

In an effort to check child deaths due to preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, the central government has launched a special immunisation week to reach out to 184 high-risk districts.

‘We have identified 184 high priority districts, where our prime focus would be to lay sufficient importance on generating awareness about immunisation,’ said Anuradha Gupta, additional secretary, ministry of health.

‘These high risk areas have been identified through India’s Polio Eradication Programme. The awareness campaign will reach the marginalised populations in brick kilns, urban slums and hard-to-reach areas,’ added Gupta.

The special immunisation week will be held over four weeks in as many months. The programmes are planned for one week each in the months of April, June, July and August in the high-risk areas across the country.

‘We have introduced new routine immunisation logo, posters, and radio and TV advertisements which will help the public understand the importance of these life-saving vaccines,’ Gupta added.

Unveiling the new logo, radio advertisements and posters, Gupta stressed that communication and campaign were necessary.

‘The new logo and other communication material would promote consistent messaging to raise awareness on the urgency of reaching every child with life-saving immunisation,’ Gupta said.

The official said a 2009 survey showed that 26% population in the country were not aware about vaccines.

Louis-Georges Arsenault, UNICEF-India representative, said, ‘There are geographical, rural-urban, poor-rich, gender and other related differences in vaccination coverage.’

According to UNICEF, nearly 1.6 million children under the age of five years, die in India every year. A large number of these deaths can be prevented with vaccines.

Source: IANS

Published : April 29, 2013 7:06 pm

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