Mission Indradhanush: Ray of Hope For Protecting Children in India From 7 Major Diseases
Mission Indradhanush: Ray of Hope For Protecting Children in India From 7 Major Diseases
The Indian government has taken a positive initiative through Mission Indradhanush which aims at covering all children by 2020 against seven vaccine preventable diseases. This will go a long way towards promoting inclusive and comprehensive healthcare in India.
Rainbow Scheme Gets It Right
Shr. J. P. Nadda, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched Mission Indradhanush on Good Governance Day which was held on 25th December 2014. The Mission Indradhanush scheme, based on the 7 colours of the rainbow, will cover all children by the year 2020 who are either non-vaccinated or partly vaccinated against 7 vaccine preventable diseases namely diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, TB, hepatitis B and measles.
Providing Immunisation Coverage
This mission was launched on Good Governance Day for marking the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna, Late Shri Madan Mohan Malaviya and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former PM of India. The Health Minister said regarding the Mission that,“We have identified 201 high focus districts in the country in the first phase which have nearly 50% of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children. These districts will be targeted by intensive efforts to improve the routine immunisation coverage.”
Of the 201 districts which yet need to get immunisation coverage,82 are in the following 4 states: UP, Bihar, MP and Rajasthan. Around 25% of the unvaccinated or partly vaccinated Indian children are located in these 82 districts.Shri. J. P. Nadda has indicated that between 2009 and 2013, immunisation coverage has increased to 65% from 61% which is a 1% coverage rise each year. Therefore, the mission will aim towards speeding up the process of immunisation through coverage of 5% and more children each year. The minister also stated that the Mission Mode has been put in place to achieve complete coverage by 2020.
A focused and systematic immunisation drive will be launched via a catch up campaign mode which will aim to provide coverage for children who have been left out or missed for immunisation. 4 special vaccination campaigns will be conducted between the months of January and June 2015 with the aim of intensive planning and monitoring of the campaigns. The information obtained following effective implementation of the polio programme will also be applied in the planning and implementation of this mission. Around 201 districts will be covered in the primary phase and followed by 297 for the secondary phase in 2015.
Components of the Mission
The Mission will be technically supported by donor partners such as WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International plus other donor partners. Apart from this, interpersonal communication, mass media and thorough mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation of the scheme are vital components of the mission, according to the Minister.
“The Ministry will be technically supported by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and other donor partners. Mass media, interpersonal communication, and sturdy mechanisms of monitoring and evaluating the scheme are crucial components of Mission Indradhanush,” said the minister.
