Media sensitization workshop held

SHILLONG, SEPT 17:A media sensitization workshop for the upcoming Measles and Rubella Campaign was held here on Monday.

Delivering the Keynote Address about the nationwide campaign for the eradication of Measles and Rubella, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare & Mission Director (NHM), GoM, Pravin Bakshi invited and solicited the support of the media in giving a wide publicity and awareness about the programme and stated that the noble and humane objectives of the campaign to root out Measles and Rubella from the country by 2020 cannot be achieved without the pro active role of media.

India achieved a monumental milestone with Polio eradication in 2014 and Maternal and Neonatal Elimination in 2015 and is now committed to the goal of Measles elimination and control of Rubella/CRS (congenital rubella syndrome) by 2020 both diseases which have no cure but can be prevented only through vaccination. To achieve this goal, Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign has been launched in the country covering all children of 9 months to below 15 years of age.

24 States across the country have already completed/started the campaign successfully covering 10.2 crore children. Meghalaya would be launching the MR Campaign on October 1 making the State the 25^th state in the country to launch the campaign. An estimated target of about 13 lakh children of the State would be vaccinated during this campaign.

The Department of Health & Family Welfare has sought the full support and active cooperation of heads of schools, teachers and parents, community leaders and public representatives towards the State’s biggest vaccination campaign.

The vaccines are WHO certified and completely safe and all children irrespective of previous immunization history or disease history can be vaccinated. The target is 100 percent coverage and evaluated coverage must be 95 percent to make the campaign a success.

Minister, Health & Family Welfare, etc A L Hek has also appealed to join hands to eliminate Measles and control Rubella so that the future generations are free from these diseases.

In the technical session Dr M Shah, UNICEF spoke on Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign-Protocol, State Immunization Officer, GoM, Dr E A Pasweth gave an overview on the State Plan of MR Vaccination, T Alam, UNICEF spoke on the Role of Media for MR Campaign while Dr Roy, WHO cleared the myths and facts with regards to the MR Vaccination. A similar workshop was held in the forenoon for religious leaders.

By Our Reporter