Make MR drive a success: DC

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 24

A meeting between officials of the district administration, Health Department and other department representatives, was conducted to discuss a plan of action to ensure maximum vaccination for measles-rubella (MR) in the ongoing campaign.

The meeting was headed by Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra who instructed officials of different departments to make the MR campaign a success by ensuring maximum vaccination.

A presentation was given during the meeting that highlighted how the MR campaign has fared till now.

The DC has also sought a report of total number of children being vaccinated/non-vaccinated for MR in the district.

According to sources while the vaccination campaign has improved in schools, the numbers of children getting vaccinated at aanganwadi centres remain negligible.

It was decided during the meeting that a list be collated of children who are not vaccinated. Parents of these children must be counselled and if they are not comfortable in getting their children vaccinated at schools, then they must be asked to visit government hospitals/centres in the district.

The Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, SMOs of different blocks, nodal officer of MR campaign and a representative from paediatrics unit of the Civil Hospital, CDPOs among others attended the meeting.

1.28 lakh children covered

Bathinda: The Health Department convened a meeting to take stock of the ongoing measles-rubella (MR) vaccination drive in the district. The meeting was convened by Civil Surgeon Dr Hari Narayan Singh and was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra.

Addressing teams and staff of the Health Department, the DC said to make sure that all children were covered as part of the MR campaign, the teams must hold meeting with the parents of children at schools, anganwari centres and at village panchayats and common meeting places to make them aware of the importance of getting the children vaccinated.

He further said the vaccination drive was being undertaken with the aim of eradicating measles and rubella disease from India. He appreciated the increasing response that the drive had started getting from parents and school authorities. He expressed hope that the targets set for the campaign would be achieved soon.

Allaying the fears of public related to the children falling ill after being administered the vaccine, the DC called upon the parents to get their vaccinated at civil hospital and health centres where hospital-based immunisation was being carried out.

The Civil Surgeon said till May 22, as many as 1.28 lakh children of the district had been covered under the measles-rubella vaccination drive.

Also present during the meeting were Dr SS Romana, Dr Pamil Bansal, senior medical staff, staff of the Education Department, principals of the government, government-aided and private schools, cluster in-charges, district programme officers and others.