An official revealed that in an effort to check child deaths due to preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, the central government has launched a special immunization week to reach out to 184 high-risk districts.
An official revealed that in an effort to check child deaths due to preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, the central government has launched a special immunization week to reach out to 184 high-risk districts. "We have identified 184 high priority districts, where our prime focus would be to lay sufficient importance on generating awareness about immunization," said Anuradha Gupta, additional secretary, ministry of health.
"These high risk areas have been identified through India's Polio Eradication Programme. The awareness campaign will reach the marginalised populations in brick kilns, urban slums and hard-to-reach areas," Gupta said at an event here.
The special immunization week will be held over four weeks in as many months. The programme are planned for one week each in the months of April, June, July and August in the high-risk areas across the country. The programme for the month of April has already taken place.
"We have introduced new routine immunization logo, posters, and radio and TV advertisements which will help the public understand the importance of these life- saving vaccines," Gupta added.
Unveiling the new logo, radio advertisements and posters, Gupta stressed that communication and campaign were necessary.
"The new logo and other communication material would promote consistent messaging to raise awareness on the urgency of reaching every child with life-saving immunization," Gupta said.
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Louis-Georges Arsenault, Unicef-India representative, said: "There are geographical, rural-urban, poor-rich, gender and other related differences in vaccination coverage."
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Source-IANS