TURA: South West Garo Hills has crossed the 90 percent mark in the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign after having reportedly vaccinated more than 54,400 children out the district target of 59,232 till date, even as outreach sessions are on in full swing after the completion of vaccination sessions in schools.
As of October 31, district coverage stood at 91.84 percent which is the highest among the districts in Garo Hills.
Out of 10 health facilities in the district, six have already achieved 100 percent coverage.
“Analysis of school and outreach performance in the district has been initiated and strategies will be adopted to overcome any challenge,” informed District Immunization Officer CR Sangma on Wednesday.
District health authorities have hailed the positive response from the public including the support from the district administration, BDOs, education and ICDS departments and religious leaders among others.
The district health teams had also organised vaccination sessions at various Puja pandals during Durga Puja with the coordination and cooperation of the puja committees.
“However there are still a few resistant groups who are reluctant to vaccinate their children based on their religious beliefs but we are making continued efforts to convince them,” district health officials said.
The district administration and district health officials are continuing to make fervent appeals and to motivate all sections of society to ensure that all children are immunized.
“Measles and Rubella are highly infectious and can cause severe disabilities such as blindness, deafness, encephalitis, mental retardation, pneumonia, diarrhea and even death. Only vaccination can protect children from these two deadly diseases”, the District Immunization Officer said.
Meanwhile Deputy Commissioner & Chairman, District Health Society, South West Garo Hills Ramkumar S has scheduled a meeting with the DTFI members and officials for November 2 to review the status and progress of the MR vaccination campaign in the district.
