Kohima, May 30 (EMN): As per the Rapid Survey on Children (RSOC) 2013-14 National Report, Nagaland with 33.6% has been recorded as the State with the lowest rate of immunisation in the country.
While the low immunisation rate in the State has pulled the attention of the National Health Mission at the centre, including the United Nation Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), however, it is encouraging that efforts are underway to make Nagaland overcome its barriers on immunization and vaccination.
In the effort to improve the health sector in the State, particularly on immunisation, the State Health Society Nagaland in collaboration with UNICEF, organised a workshop with religious leaders today at Hotel Vivor, Kohima, with the target to improve demand for immunisation and maternal and child health services in Nagaland. The report on Nagaland having the lowest rate on immunisation in the country was brought to light during the workshop.
According to research based on CES 2009, the prime reason for low coverage was due to the low demand for the immunisation services among the communities. It was learned that majority of the families in the State do not have appropriate knowledge about immunisation and child birth.
It was also observed that significant number of families do not consider it as to get their children immunised, while there are misconceptions in some places where people associate immunisation with hidden agenda of family planning.
Sharing on the objective of the workshop, Dr. Tushar Rane, chief of field office, UNICEF Assam, underlined the need to create awareness on immunisation, maternal and child health services.
“We should ensure that every child is vaccinated. If our children are not immunised, we need to do something for them,” he said adding that the UNICEF will work very closely with the concerned stakeholders, including the church.
Stating that church organisations have high level of social influence and engagement in the communities, Dr. Rane expressed hope that partnering with the church on this mission will facilitate an easier reach to the communities with information on child and maternal health.
“We together can play a very important role in this mission. We are responsible for the good health of the child,” he said and made an ardent plea to let no delivery takes place outside delivery centres, even not at home. He also stressed the need to cut down infant mortality rates in the country.
During the workshop, the importance of partnering with the church was noted as very crucial as it (church) has an established network of people and physical infrastructure that reaches from the State to district and to community levels, and further it acts to provide motivational impetus to the behaviour change and to act for the wider social change.
The need for the State government to take various initiatives to address the low demand issues for immunisation, maternal and child health services was also pointed out during the workshop.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare, P Longon, in his address, called for community’s ownership and active participation in the immunisation process in the State.
Stating his observation that there is a gap between service provisions and the information about the services to the people, Longon underscored the need for the people to own and take active part in the government’s programmes.
“The people are not well informed on the benefits of the government programmes, particularly the ongoing health schemes and programmes. As a result, we are not being able to harness the desired outcome of the health programmes,” he observed.
“Health is one of the priorities of the government. We are continuously making efforts to build our generation fit for future challenges, be it their competence to excel in their careers, the economic life, social life or spiritual life,” Longon said maintaining that “the government is trying its best to work towards the welfare of the people.”
“Active involvement of people for whom the programme is intended is critical,” he said and called for community’s ownership and participation for improving the health sector.
Reiterating that the government is making efforts to engage with communities from every corners of the State, the minister emphasised on the need for the community to be informed on all the welfare related programmes and schemes.
Calling for the participation of educated people from various departments to inform people on health programmes and their benefits, he felt that this would definitely lead towards making Nagaland a healthy society.
On immunisation programmes, the minister lamented that the coverage is low in the State. He observed that the low coverage is due to the low demand for immunisation services in the State.
“Important barriers are related to awareness/information gap and fear of adverse events following immunisation. Demand for routine immunisation is low; parents and families do not know about vaccines; they do not feel the need for vaccination,” he remarked.
“Platforms such as Village Health and Nutrition Days organised at villages by health workers are especially designed for community participation and awareness. To make them successful, these efforts need to be supported by other government departments as well as civil society organisations, faith based organisations and volunteer,” he said.
Addressing a host of religious leaders, he pointed out that churches, over the years, have been “the most important part of the civil society in our State.”
Lauding the church for playing an important role to change the social and material life of the region over the course of time, he appealed the church leaders to help the health workers at the grassroots to create awareness and promote healthy practices. Longon also appealed the media and other civil society organisations to help create awareness about health issues and programmes in order to promote good health amongst the citizens.
General secretary of NBCC, Zelhou Keyho, and Fr. Charles, who represented the Catholic Association of Nagaland, also addressed the gathering. Representatives from Nagaland Christian Revival Church and other denominations were also part of the workshop.
