Health Ministry gears up to augment Mission Indradhanush for full immunisation by 2018

Kolkata, Aug 26: With an aim to expedite full immunisation coverage by 2018 and deliver substantial focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunisation reach, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is set to intensify Mission Indradhanush. A total of 118 districts, 17 urban areas and 52 districts of Northeast states will be targeted under Mission Indradhanush. According to the road map prepared by the Ministry to execute the action plan, the states will carry out the Mission for seven working days from 7th day of every month starting from October 7 for four consecutive months excluding Sundays, holidays and routine immunisation days. Under Mission Indradhanush, emphasis will be more on urban areas which will be done through mapping of all underserved population in urban areas and need-based deployment of ANMs for providing vaccination services in these areas. Mobility support to field staff for deployment to such areas in urban as well as rural areas will be provided. Intensive monitoring and strong accountability mechanism is being established at all levels with Cabinet Secretary at national level and the Chief Secretary at state level reviewing the preparations and progress. Every district identified for Intensified Mission Indradhanush will be monitored by partners through an identified nodal person for each district. Further, emphasis will also be given on integration of Intensified Mission Indradhanush sessions into routine immunisation microplans after completion of for rounds of Intensified Mission Indradhanush. The integration of these sessions will also be monitored by partners and senior Government officials. A distinctive feature of Intensified Mission Indradhanush is that greater focus is being given on convergence with other ministries especially women and child development, panchayati raj, urban development, youth affairs, NCC. The convergence of ground level workers of various departments like ASHA, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, Zila preraks under NULM, self-help groups will be crucial for successful implementation of Intensified Mission Indradhanush. Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) of India prevents mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine preventable diseases. In the past it has been seen that the increase in immunisation coverage had slowed down and it increased at the rate of 1 per cent per year between 2009 and 2013. To accelerate this coverage Mission Indradhanush was envisaged and implemented since 2015 to rapidly increase the full immunisation coverage to 90 per cent. More UNI