Measles Drive In Good Stead; 3 Lac Children Vaccinated, Says NHM - Eastern Mirror
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Nagaland

Measles drive in good stead; 3 lac children vaccinated, says NHM

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By EMN Updated: Oct 18, 2018 12:51 am
DIMAPUR MEASLES coverage photo
The health divisions of Dimapur and Zunheboto issued these images on Wednesday Oct. 17 showing children holding up what is understood to be vaccination memos. In Dimapur, about 72,309 children have been vaccinated during the first two weeks of the campaign, the health division informed.

Dimapur, Oct. 17 (EMN): The vaccination campaign against German measles or Rubella, across Nagaland has reported progress. Updates from the National Health Mission on Wednesday stated that the campaign—“measles-rubella” as dubbed by the state’s health agencies—has ‘crossed three lakh coverage’ with 3,05,948 children having been vaccinated.
‘Gaining momentum each day. Nagaland MR vaccination campaign has crossed 3 lakh coverage. As per reports received on 16th October 2018 from districts, Nagaland has reached a total coverage of 3,05,948 children vaccinated with MR vaccine through 2,632 school and 906 outreach sessions,’ mission director of the NHM Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru stated in a message on Oct. 17.

The NHM called the response to the campaign from citizens ‘very encouraging till date and with dedicated health workers tirelessly working to make sure that each and every eligible child is vaccinated against measles and rubella diseases.’

The department has requested continued support from the administrations, police, and Assam Rifles; and allied departments and civil society to ‘ensure the goal to eradicate measles and combat congenital rubella syndrome’ by vaccinating all children over nine months and under 15 years of age vaccinated and make the campaign a grand success.

Dimapur
72,309 children have been vaccinated in the first two weeks of the campaign in Dimapur district carried out across schools, the health division of Dimapur has informed.

According to the district program officer’s establishment of Dimapur “more than 50 % of the total target has been vaccinated during the first two weeks of the campaign.”

‘The outreach activities have started today, and the coverage so far looks very promising, and hopefully, Dimapur district will be able to achieve its target soon,’ a press release from the district’s health authorities on Wednesday stated. The second round of the campaign to low coverage schools is also being carried out along with the ‘outreach activities,’ the updates stated.

The health division has expressed gratitude to school authorities for their support and cooperation during the two weeks school campaign. It has requested colony and ward leaders and local authorities to assist during the campaign in their respective locality.

Measles Rubella zunheboto photo

Zunheboto
The Health and Family Welfare division of Zunheboto district launched the health intervention to immunize 25,197 children of the age group nine months to 15 years against measles and rubella.

“So far 18,047 children’s have been vaccinated across the district without any untoward incidents. Initially, the campaign had hit some hurdles because of rumour mongering and superstitions mainly shared on social media platforms,” a press release from the chief medical officer’s (CMO) establishment of Zunheboto informed in an update on Wednesday.
The administrations, police, Health and Education department assisted by the Social Welfare department “contained the situation in time by dispelling false

rumours and explaining the benefits and importance of this vaccination drive,” the health authority stated.
The district authorities thank the schools, parents, health workers and development partners for helping the department vaccinate children of the target population in the district. Likewise, they have expressed gratitude to “religious leaders” and individuals for “coming out openly to dispel the misinformation and doubts spread about the vaccination campaign.”

According to the health division, the campaign took enormous efforts and advocacy to convince people including parents why even older children need to be vaccinated.

“In order to install confidence in the minds of the people about the safety of the vaccinations, the administration, medical officers, church Leaders and public leaders have walked the extra mile to vaccinate their own children first. Despite difficult terrain and hardship the medical personnel are trying their best to reach all the children,” the CMO stated.

The division has appealed to parents to cooperate and get all children between the age group nine months to 15 years immunized with “MR vaccine” and be protected from the life-threatening measles and rubella disease.

Tuensang
The measles vaccination campaign in Tuensang district was conducted from Oct. 3 to the 15th. According to updates from the district’s health establishment about 35, 959 children were vaccinated on day-13. The medical division covered 250 schools in eight blocks of Tuensang district, the updates informed. The ‘remaining missed out’ sections will be reached “in the community level” by around the end of October, the updates stated.

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By EMN Updated: Oct 18, 2018 12:51:04 am
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