CHAYANG TAJO, 2 May: A Block Task Force on Immunisation (BTFI) meeting was convened at the community health centre (CHC) here in East Kameng district on Friday, bringing together key stakeholders, including ASHAs, members of self-help groups (SHGs), cluster coordinators, the Chayang Tajo medical officer (MO), nursing officers, representatives of schools, and the Chayang Tajo circle officer (CO).
During the meeting, which was chaired by CO Rajiv Ranjan Ray, MO Dr Shanti Tajo emphasised the critical importance of vaccination in preventing chronic diseases and achieving the objectives of Mission Indradhanush at the block level. She highlighted the pivotal role of ASHAs in strengthening grassroots awareness and community mobilisation. Dr Tajo also informed the participants about the availability of vaccination services every Saturday at the CHC here, facilitated by a dedicated nursing staff.
Special emphasis was placed on the importance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescent girls aged 14-15 years. School representatives were urged to actively cooperate in identifying eligible beneficiaries to ensure wider coverage.
During the discussion, ASHAs shared several challenges contributing to vaccine hesitancy, including reluctance to provide Aadhaar details, prevalent myths about vaccines causing deformities, and general lack of awareness. In response, it was resolved that nursing staff and multi-tasking staff would intensify outreach efforts at the grassroots level to address misconceptions, dispel myths, and promote informed decision-making within the community.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the commitment extended by SHG coordinators to assist in identifying immunisation dropouts through SHG platforms, recognising that a majority of households in Chayang Tajo are associated with SHGs.
The meeting also underscored the importance of inter-departmental convergence. It was decided to synchronise Health and Nutrition Days with panchayat level federation (PLF) meetings of SHGs at common venues, thereby enhancing synergy, participation, and overall impact of health interventions.
The CO in his address stressed the need for targeted efforts to improve the health status of the Puroik community, noting that their migratory lifestyle poses challenges to timely immunisation. He called for focused strategies to ensure consistent healthcare access for these vulnerable groups.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen immunisation coverage and improve public health outcomes in the block. (DIPRO)
