From Trishna Pegu
GUWAHATI : ‘We shall achieve the target of 6 lakhs vaccination in a year by covering children and pregnant women of all sections of the state through the special initiative of Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0 (IMI) along with regular vaccination drive.’-said Keshab Mahanta while participating the virtual launch programme of the Mission from Azara Block Primary Health Centre in Kamrup. He also said that for smooth and successful implementation of the Mission three phases are fixed in three months. Accordingly the vaccination drive under the intensive mission will take place from today to 15 February for the first phase, 7th to 15th March for second phase and 4th to 12th April, 22 for the third phase. Especially the left out children up to two years during COVID pandemic will be covered in this drive.
Inaugurating the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0 in Delhi through virtual mode for 116 districts of 33 states of India, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that now the world gets inspiration from India in case of vaccination. Time has come to establish another example by making the Intensified Mission Indradhanush a complete success. Further he said that this vaccination drive meant for the life security of the future citizens of India. Therefore, the people engaged in this drive should think that their service is the best service ever they rendered for humanity, as this service has saving others’ lives. Mentioning the enhanced percentage of vaccination he also said that the percentage of vaccination in 2014 was only 43 which is increased to 76% now. He expressed his hope that this time the country will achieve the target of 90% through this special drive. He also expressed hope that this Mission will also be a great success like Mega COVID Vaccination with utmost dedication and effort of the health workers.
Earlier the Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan, in his welcome address said that India is in the forefront of mega universal vaccination drives in the world. This time 116 districts of 33 states in the country will be covered in IMI. Through this drive, vaccine will be provided for 12 vaccine prevented diseases. Thrust will be given for full immunisation of the children up to 2 years and the pregnant women. Further he said that the Mission will be carried out in two phases. In first phase 11 states including Assam will carry out the vaccination drive in February, March and April, 2022 and in 2nd phase other 22 states will taken up the drive in March, April and May, 22. The screening of virtual launching programme at Azara PHC was also attended by Dr S Lakshmanan, the Mission Director of National Health Mission, Assam, other senior officers of Health Department including Director, Kailash Karthik N, DC Kamrup and other beneficiaries of the Azara region. It may be mentioned here that to provide a colourful and healthy lives to the children by preventing the diseases especially Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis-B, Polio, Measles etc, this Indradhanush Mission was started initially on 25 December, 2014. Later on following the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the IMI was launched on 8 October, 2017. This time it is the fourth phase of the Mission.
