NAHARLAGUN, Jan 9: A ‘meeting-cum-workshop’ of the capital complex district task force on Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI), Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 2.0 and the child death review (CDR) was held at the mini-secretariat here on Thursday.
Chairing the meeting, Naharlagun EAC Ashok Tajo said it is important to create awareness regarding immunization and vaccination, “especially among people who reside in the interior areas without access to proper healthcare facilities.”
He urged medical officers to “make such resources available at the health centres, so that the villagers could avail the opportunity,” and lamented that “many a time we focus more on data, instead of focusing on ground realities.”
Advocating collective effort by all stakeholders for the success of such programmes, the EAC said the administration is ready to provide all support to such endeavours of the health department, “especially the IPPI, which is going to be launched on 19 January.”
DMO Dr Mandip Perme presented information on the first and second rounds of IMI, and this year’s IPPI. He said that during IPPI 2020, “140 IPPI booths would be set up in various locations of the capital complex, including private hospitals.”
Itafort dispensary MO Dr Kabak Tamar made a PowerPoint presentation on the CDR and said checking infant mortality is one of the key goals of the National Health Mission.
He informed that “the sustainable development goal is to end preventable deaths of newborn and children under five years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1000 live births, and Under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1000 live births.”
As per the data of 2019, Arunachal stands at 42 per 1000 live births, Dr Tamar informed.
TRIHMS Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Tao Kaki informed that the new paediatric ward at the TRIHMS would be made functional soon, and so will the five-bedded SCNU.
He expressed hope that with such developments, “especially with the start of the medical college and the department of paediatrics, the infant mortality rate will come down drastically.”
He also informed that regular immunization is being carried out at all the health centres of the capital complex.
Earlier, Dr Megha from the WHO presented the global and national updates on polio eradication. She explained that even after being declared a polio-free country, “it is still important to give polio vaccines through routine immunization and IPPI.”
Rakap Colony UPHC MO Dr Tilling Gambo presented a brief on issues related to the IPPI, monitoring plan, recording and reporting, and IMI review. (DIPRO)
