SHILLONG: In preparation for the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign in September end, a state-level workshop was organised by Directorate of Health Services Maternal Child Health and Family Welfare (MCH & FW) which was concluded on Saturday.
The workshop witnessed more than 60 participants from the state level, all 11 districts and partner agencies like WHO, UNICEF, Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Rotary International and NEIGRIHMS.
The inaugural session was held under the chairpersonship of Pravin Bakshi, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare cum Mission Director, NHM.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, P. W. Ingty, also addressed the participants on the second day. Experts from national level and regional level were present to train the participants.
India has achieved monumental milestones with Polio eradication in 2014 and Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination in 2015.
Efforts have been made to strengthen routine immunisation by introduction of new vaccines such as Pentavalent and Injectable Polio Vaccine, strengthening cold chain maintenance and intensification of routine immunisation.
India is committed to the goal of measles elimination and control of Rubella/CRS (congenital rubella syndrome) by 2020.
To achieve this goal, Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign was launched in the country covering all children of 9 months to below 15 years of age group. Both these diseases can only be prevented through vaccination.
The rubella vaccine is already used in few states routinely and also by private practitioners as MR & MMR (Mumps-Measles-Rubella) vaccines.
More than 9 crore children have been vaccinated across 9 states in India including Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.
Now, this vaccine will be introduced in the routine immunisation programme in Meghalaya following the campaign.
The estimated number of beneficiaries is over 13 lakh children between the age of 9 months to below 15 years in Meghalaya.
The target is to reach 100% coverage and evaluated coverage must be more than 95% to make the campaign a successful one.
The participants also jointly took a pledge to eliminate measles and control rubella in the state.
