JK govt launches state-wide campaign under Mission Indradhanush

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government today launched a state-wide special campaign under Mission Indradhanush from here to achieve full immunisation in the state.

The focus of this campaign is to accelerate and ensure full immunisation coverage in Jammu and Kashmir, specially in areas where immunisation coverage has been low, Health Minister Bali Bhagat said.

Bhagat along with Minister of State for Health Asiea Naqash launched the campaign at the Kote Bhalwal sub-district hospital, where they administered doses to children, a spokesman said.

The state's campaign was started following the launch of a nation-wide intensified drive under the Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vadnagar in Gujarat today, he said.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has devised an aggressive action plan under the Mission to achieve full immunisation by 2018, the health minister said.

Under the plan, all states would conduct an intensified drive under the Mission for seven days from the seventh day of every month till January, 2018, Bhagat said.

"The first phase for 2017, started today, and it shall continue for four consecutive months. The drive would not be conducted on Sundays and holidays," Bhagat said.

He said under the campaign, greater focus would be laid on urban areas.

"This will be done through mapping of all under-served population in urban areas followed by need-based deployment of necessary staff," Bhagat said.

Mobility support to field staff for deployment to such areas in urban as well as rural areas will be provided, he said.