Shillong, Jan 9: Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad on Tuesday launched the fourth round of Intensified Mission Indradhanush to prevent children from suffering by any vaccine-preventable disease.
Through this programme, the government aims to reach each and every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunisation programme.
The Meghalaya government has vaccinated 20,907 children of the 44,972 targetted children across the state.
Under the 4th round which was launched here on Monday, the government has targeted to cover around 10,000 children in the state.
“Immunization is one of the most cost effective health inventions which can save thousands of lives by preventing diseases that are not only incurable,†Prasad said.
He said that timely vaccination is not only life saving, but is also the birth right of every child and pregnant woman.
Prasad urged all parents and guardians to join hand with the initiative of the government to achieve full immunization of more than 90 percent of new-borns in the country by 2020.
As a mark of launching the Mission, the Governor presented a MCP card to a mother and administered Polio drops to a baby on the occasion.
Aiming to focus on areas with low immunization coverage the fourth round of Intensified Mission Indradhanush will commence from today for 7 working days in the state in selected districts namely East Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, North Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and only in the urban areas in West Khasi Hills.
Meanwhile, The National Health Mission and Meghalaya State Health Department, urged all parents of children less than 2 years of age and pregnant women who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated to come forward and avail the services especially provided for them free of cost.
