Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, launched the Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC) at Dr Neilhouzhii Kire Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) at Seikhazou in Kohima on Wednesday.
Speaking at the launching programme, the Chief Minister described the day as ‘historic’ and expressed hope that Nagaland would soon become 100 per cent free from measles and rubella.
The Chief Minister also called upon all to come united in eliminating measles and rubella and make Nagaland a healthy and progressive State.
Rio also sought cooperation from schools, churches, NGOs and other civil society organizations to make the campaign a success.
The launching programme was also attended by State Health and Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom, Advisor of School Education, K T Sukhalu, Advisor of Rural Development, Dr Neikiesalie Kire and other Health Department officials.
The campaign aims to vaccinate 4.72 lakh children in the age group of nine months to 15 years during the next five weeks
Speaking on the occasion, State Health Minister, Pangnyu Phom, said all the children in the State from nine months to 15 years would be protected from measles and rubella with this vaccination.
National Rural Health Mission director, Dr Kevichusa Medikhru, in his keynote address, disclosed that due to outbreak of measles there were 12 death cases in 2016 and 2017 and the disease claimed three lives in Kiphire of the State this year.
Dr Medikhru said the vaccination would be carried out for the next five weeks with initial two week campaign in all the schools, both private and government, the third and fourth week campaign would be held in the anganwadi centre, sub-centres, primary health centres and community health centres.
In the fifth week, he said a sweeping campaign would be conducted so that any child missing the vaccination during the four weeks would be vaccinated.