From conducting task force meets to preparing micro strategies and sensitising vaccinators over several months now, the district officials are all geared up for the five-week measles-rubella (MR) vaccination drive to be held from August 17 to September 23.
With a strategy to eliminate measles and control rubella in the country by 2020, the campaign was launched under the National Health Mission, and is considered the largest-ever MR campaign in the world.
Measles or Thattu Ammavaru is an infectious disease caused by an air-borne virus, which attacks the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. It suppresses immunity and complications arising from it are diarrhoea, pneumonia or brain infection that could lead to death.
Rubella (congenital rubella syndrome), on the other hand, causes physical and mental retardation among newborns if a pregnant woman gets infected.
The 0.5 ml one-shot combined MR vaccine administered to any child between 9 months and 15 years of age gives lifelong protection against these illnesses.
Mostly affecting the children aged below five, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) figures show that there were about 367 measles deaths every day globally in 2015. And an estimated 47,000 deaths were from India.
In Nalgonda, the last recorded outbreak of measles cases, according to the District Medical and Health Office (DMHO), was in December 2016 when three children from a family in Kattangur mandal, 20 km from here, developed rashes and fever. “My daughter coughed throughout the night. She developed fever and red rashes above her neck,” said Y. Venkanna. “Fortunately, all the three have recovered after the vaccine doses were administered and are being monitoring at a hospital.”
Speaking to The Hindu , District Immunization Officer A. Bala Narendra said: “The aim of this rigorous campaign is to cover more than 95% of children in the district.” The five-week campaign covers all schools, villages, high-risk areas and a mop-up week concludes the programme.”
As the vaccine is administered subcutaneous (just under the skin), the ANMs are being taught the techniques and are being instructed to be child-sensitive. “Parents need not have any apprehensions, they can accompany their child during the vaccination,” he said.
More than 3.7 lakh children in the district have already been registered through the 257 PHCs. And now, the administration is on an awareness-cum-advertisement job to spread the word.
It will soon hand out ‘I support MR campaign’ vehicle stickers and pamphlets for a wider public awareness. The DMHO also plans to conduct literary competitions on ‘Immunization and its importance’ at schools, the winners of which will be awarded prizes on the Independence Day.
