Health dept to launch ’Mission Indradhanush’ in DK, Oct 7

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 4, 2015 : ’Mission Indradhanush 2015’  by the Union ministry of health and family welfare aiming  at covering all children who are unvaccinated or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B), will be launched in Dakshina Kannada district on October 7.

The successful completion of phase I of Mission Indradhanush from April to July 2015 in six high priority districts of Karnataka, has provided department of health and family welfare to extend it to 17 districts in phase 2. The districts are: Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Gadag, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Mysuru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davangere, Bidar, Belagavi and Ramanagara.

Launched by ministry of health and family welfare, government of India in December 2014, Mission Indradhanush aims to achieve more than 90% immunization coverage in India. Based on prioritization, India has been categorized in to high, medium and low focus districts. Phase I that covered Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, BBMP, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir districts was implemented with four rounds of activity held between April and July 2015. 

DK DHO Ramakrishna Rao said that the second phase will be implemented from October and go on up to January 2016. "It will be for seven working days starting from 7th of each month. 

The department will utilize the services of ASHA workers, auxiliary nurse midwives and primary health centres to map all children in the target age group and ensure that they have received the necessary immunization as mandated in the universal immunization programme of the union government. The department has also availed the help of respective district units of Indian Medical Association, Indian Association of Pediatrics, women and child welfare department, Mangaluru City Corporation, NGOs and other departments to make the programme viable.  added.