State to conduct “Immunization weeks”

With the government of India’ declaration of year 2012 as “The Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization,” a state level sensitization meeting of CMOs and DIOs was held January 16 at the directorate of health & family welfare Kohima. The meeting was chaired by commissioner and secretary to government of Nagaland, health & family welfare Menukhol John.

John revealed that Nagaland was grouped among poor performing states in NE and announced that to improve immunization coverage, the state would be conducting “Immunization weeks” in the last week of January, February, March and April, where all children below 2 yrs of age and all pregnant women will be covered with age-appropriate vaccine doses.

In this connection, commissioner and secretary appealed to all districts to sincerely take up the opportunity to increase immunization coverage of all beneficiaries by conducting the “Immunization Weeks” and also intensify the implementation of Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).

He also appealed to other departments of social welfare, school education, district administration, NGOs, VHCs, FBOs etc., to extend pro-active support to the programme.

He appealed to the parents to ensure that their children get fully immunized with the vaccines being provided free of cost at all the health units. He also said presence of medical officers and health workers in their place of posting was a must for successful implementation of all health related programme.

The afternoon session was a technical session where micro planning for man power, vaccines, logistics, categorization of target population, recording and reporting, monitoring/supervision, management of AEFI and immunization waste and training at district and block levels were discussed. Resource person from WHO (NPSP) and UNICEF also participated in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by principal director Dr. Yangerlemla, director family welfare & mission director (NRHM) Dr. Toshevi, director health service Dr. Neiphi Kire, joint secretary and under secretary to the government of Nagaland health & family welfare, a host of senior officers of the directorate and district officers.