Srinagar: Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization J&K, UNICEF India and World Health Organization Saturday organized a media sensitization workshop for awareness of general masses regarding forthcoming Measles Rubella Vaccination (MRV) Campaign under which 43.33 lakh children of the age group of 9 months to 15 years age will be vaccinated in the State.
Deputy Commissioner, Immunization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, Dr Pradeep Haldar gave detailed information of the campaign which will start from September 01. It was further revealed that the campaign will be conducted for a period of 6 weeks, starting with students of all the government and private schools, Darul uloom’s, Monastery schools, and Madrasas. The first target group will also include physically handicapped, mentally challenged children and students of blind schools while as in second phase religious heads, community heads would be involved to make it a successful campaign through outreach sessions. In the third phase, all uncovered children will be covered.
It was also informed that rubella vaccine is introduced in India’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP) for the first time. He said after the completion of campaign, Measles-Rubella Vaccine will be introduced in Routine Immunization and will be part of UIP Jammu and Kashmir replacing the currently given two doses of measles vaccine at 9-12 months and 16-24 months. The vaccination will be provided free of cost and will be given through auto disposable syringe.
It was stated that 12 ministries, NGO’s, Professional bodies, Home Affairs, Information and Public Relation, Labour and Employment, Housing and Urban development, civil Aviation, Road transport, Defence, Railways, Sports and Youth Services, Panchayati Raj and Tribal development besides Education, ICDS and other convergence departments have been involved to make this campaign a success to eradicate the Measles– Rubella from the country.
Director Family welfare MCH & Immunization J&K, Dr Samir Mattoo, SRTL- North WHO, Dr Srinivasan, State Immunization Officer, Dr Qazi Haroon, Communication Officer UNICEF India, Sonia Sarkar, besides representatives of State and National media and officials of UNICEF attended the workshop.
