Shillong Oct 01: With the aim of eliminating measles and control rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), the State Launch of the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign was held today at Pine Mount School, Shillong wherein the Meghalaya Education Minister Shri. Lahkmen Rymbui graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Termed as one of the world’s largest vaccination campaign against Measles-Rubella (MR), the campaign is targeting around 41 crore children across country between the age group of 9 months and less than 15 years. The campaign will cover public and private sector settings like schools and health facilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Lahkmen Rymbui said a healthy body results in a healthy mind. Therefore we should invest on the health of children as the future of the state will be unhealthy if the children are not healthy. To achieve the goal of the Campaign, which Shri. Rymbui termed as a massive exercise, he called on parents, administrators and schools to cooperate with the government machineries for the welfare of the children.
Shri. P Dkhar, Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills District called on all stakeholders to work hand in hand to achieve the goal of covering 13 lakh children by the end of October 2018.He further stated that the Health, Education and Social Welfare Departments have come together to ensure that all children within the targeted age group, even those not covered under the formal education system, are covered under the Campaign.
Shri. Pravin Bakshi, Secretary (H&FW) cum Mission Director (NHM), Shillong informed that Meghalaya is the 25th State in the country to launch the Campaign which aims to reduce illness and death due to MR. Stating that over 50,000 children die annually due to measles and rubella, he asked parents not be dissuaded by negative propaganda but to take advantage of the Campaign for their children’s well being.
To mark the launch, a Pledge on Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign was also administered by the Chief Guest Shri. Lahkmen Rymbui.
