Department of Health and Family Welfare (DH&FW) in collaboration with Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), under the initiative of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan launched “Special Intensified Mission Indradhanush” (SIMI) campaign on April 23.
A press release from UIP division under NRHM, Health & Family Welfare stated that the activity would cover 738 villages in all 11 districts of Nagaland. The drive will be conducted in three rounds with the first round starting from April 23 to 27 for three consecutive months.
The campaign is an effort to vaccinate children below two years of age and pregnant women who have missed out on the routine vaccination.
In the earlier campaigns, persistent gaps were found with regard to immunization coverage in urban areas and areas with poor mobilization of targeted beneficiaries.
In accordance with Union Health Ministry, the goal of SIMI is to accelerate the coverage and achieve 90% full immunization coverage by December 2018 and sustain the coverage thereafter through routine immunization.
“There will be effective program oversight through state task force meetings and district task force meetings chaired by principal secretary (H&FW) and DCs respectively” the press release said. The chief secretary has been reviewing the progress of the program through the state steering committee meeting.
There will also be intensive monitoring of the campaign by state-level health officials and development partners (WHO, UNICEF, UNDP). GoI has deputed national observers Senior Project Officer (CPME), UNDP & National mentor, Dr. Shalini Verma, DC (MH), Dr. Sumita Ghosh to oversee the planning, preparedness and implementation of Mission Indradhanush and Prime Minister-Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission in identified districts.