With active participation of Anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), as many as 612 children aged below two years and 156 pregnant women were given different vaccines on the first day of the four-month long Mission Indradhanush programme in Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday.
The District Health Department has estimated to administer vaccines to as many as 4,047 children and 1,324 pregnant women during this programme in the district.
The district is one of the 17 districts in the state where the second phase of the Mission Indradhanush – a programme to immunise the children and pregnant women with all necessary vaccines – is being implemented. The immunisation programme under the Mission Indradhanush will be held for four days every month.
The children and pregnant women will be checked for vaccines that have been administered. If any of the vaccines have been missed, they will be accordingly administered. They will be given vaccines to protect against seven life-threatening diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B. Pregnant women will also be vaccinated against tetanus.
District Reproductive Child Health Officer, Sadashiva, said the focus of the department has been on the high-risk areas such as places where migrants stay, such as brick kilns and construction sites.
Dr. Sadashiva said as many as 452 sessions will be held during the seven days of the first round of the drive. On Wednesday, 111 sessions were held. Anganwadi workers and ASHAs took part in the programme by mobilising children and pregnant women to the vaccination booths.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel launched the programme at the Lady Goschen Hospital by administering oral polio drops to new born children.
In Udupi
P. Yuvaraj, president of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), launched the Mission Indradhanush at the Beedinagudde anganwadi centre in Udupi on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yuvaraj said the Department of Health and Family Welfare was organising several programmes to maintain a healthy society. The Mission Indradhanush was yet another programme, which was taking health to the doorsteps of the people.
