IMI 5.0 to target partially vaccinated or drop-out individuals: NHM Nagaland

Kohima: Nagaland first state in country to carry out state-level training for U-WIN at block and district levels

BY | Saturday, 29 July, 2023

IMI 5.0 is scheduled to roll out across the state on 7August 2023, Dr Ritu Thurr, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) informed at the State Task Force (STF) meeting for Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 5.0) and MR Elimination. The meeting was held on Friday at IDSP Hall, Directorate of H&FW, Kohima on Friday under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, S Tainiu, DIPR informed.

Dr Thurr also mentioned in his keynote address that IMI 5.0 will target partially vaccinated or drop-out individuals. He acknowledged the challenges faced during project implementation but expressed hope that overall performance and immunization coverage would improve across Nagaland. He also urged for technical and physical support from allied departments to achieve the desired goals.

IMI 5.0 will focus on reaching zero-dose children aged between 0 – 5 years, ensuring that every child receives life-saving vaccines. The initiative is also intended to be the big leap for achieving Measles & Rubella elimination in the country by ensuring that every child under 5 years of age has completed the two-dose schedule of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV).

He highlighted that the universal immunization program in India is one of the largest public health interventions worldwide. The program targets a massive number of beneficiaries and involves vaccine production and distribution. Dr Thurr emphasized that around 30 crore pregnant women and 27 thousand newborn children are estimated to be immunized with TT injections and antigens annually. India stands as a leading vaccine producer globally, with 13 vaccine-preventable diseases and 12 antigens being freely supplied to beneficiaries by the government.

Dr Thurr also brought attention to the success of the U-WIN pilot project in two districts, Peren and Dimapur, which facilitated the real-time tracing of beneficiaries’ names and identified partially vaccinated defaulters through a portal. He mentioned that Nagaland is the first state in the country to carry out state-level training at the block and district levels.

During the group discussion, officials from allied departments such as Rural Development, School Education, and School Welfare highlighted the challenges and issues faced during project implementation. The participants also emphasized the importance of creating awareness about the program in all districts to ensure its success across the state.

The meeting featured PowerPoint presentations by various specialists, including SPO (WHO) Dr Sheila Longkumer on IMI 5.0/ MR Elimination, SPO (UNDP) Kingston Karmakar on U-WIN Scaling up, SPO (UNICEF) Dr Pangjung SBCC Consultant on Communication & Mobilisation, and SPO Dr Khelito Zhimomi (RCH) on the RCH program.

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