M-R vaccination drive to cover 3.1 lakh children

‘Educational institutions will be covered in the first week; school drop-outs too will be inoculated’

February 01, 2017 12:55 am | Updated 08:39 am IST - PUDUCHERRY:

Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao chairing a review meeting with senior Health Department officials at the Assembly in Puducherry on Tuesday.

Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao chairing a review meeting with senior Health Department officials at the Assembly in Puducherry on Tuesday.

Minister for Health Malladi Krishna Rao on Tuesday said that a Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign will be conducted from February 6 to 28.

During a press conference held at his office in the Assembly, he said the campaign would cover 3.10 lakh children in the age group of 9 months to 15 years in the Union Territory.

“The Department of Health has issued directions to the Directorate of School Education to organise campaign in all the schools in Puducherry. All educational institutions will be covered in the first week of the programme. School drop-outs will be covered in the healthcare delivery system and special sites in the remaining weeks,” he said.

K.V. Raman, Director, Department of Health, Government General Hospital, said that on the recommendation of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, the Centre has set a goal to achieve measles elimination and Control of Congenital Rubella Syndrome by 2020.

Allaying fears about the MR vaccine, Dr. Raman said medical officers and health staff were instructed to educate teachers, parents and the public about the importance of the campaign. However, no circular has been sent to the schools in this regard. “The Education Department has given only oral instructions to the schools to inform parents,” an official in the department said.

H1N1 infection

Nearly 24 cases of H1N1 infection have been reported till date in Puducherry. Three persons infected with H1N1 died due to comorbidity or presence of other diseases, and two doctors are currently undergoing treatment at JIPMER.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Dr.Raman said 19 persons who tested positive for H1N1 infection have recovered completely.

The elderly persons, those with uncontrolled diabetes, pregnant women and children are vulnerable and should be cautious during this season, he said.

The Health Department has issued guidelines to the primary healthcare centres in treating patients suspected of H1N1 infection. “We have enough medicines to treat the patients. The families of H1N1-infected patients will be administered medicine to prevent the spread of flu,” he said.

Dr. Raman said: “Patients who test positive would be sent to JIPMER, which has 10 beds or the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases in Gorimedu, which has 8 beds.”

CM to visit Delhi

Chief Minister and Minister for Health will be visiting Delhi on February 6 to discuss NEET issue. Addressing the press on Tuesday, Mr. Rao said that they would be meeting the Central Ministers in this regard.

Last year, the government settled for 265 seats under the government quota with private medical colleges in the Union Territory, he said. This year, the government was able to get 283 seats under the government quota. “While the government has been providing financial assistance of ₹2.25 lakh for students admitted through the Centralised Admission Committee, students pursuing MBBS in private medical colleges were paying ₹7.5 lakh as fees,” he said.

“As a result, students admitted to deemed universities are unable to pay the fees demanded by the management and in the subsequent years discontinue their studies. This not only affects the education of students but also results in financial loss to colleges and the government. The government is also discussing the possibility of reducing the total number of seats under government quota to 200 against 283 and ensuring complete free education for students pursuing MBBS in deemed universities and private medical colleges,” he added.

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