A meeting of the Lunglei District Task Force on Immunization was convened last Friday (22/11/2019) at the DC Office Chamber under the Chairmanship of Lunglei DC Pi K. Lalrinzuali. The meeting was attended by the concerned Government Officials and NGO leaders.

Lunglei District Immunization Officer cum Senior Medical Officer Dr Lalrinthangi highlighted the achievements of Lunglei District under Universal Immunization Program. She pointed out that 2017 – 18 (April – March) achievement was 67% which increased to 72% in 2018-19 (April – March). Under the Pulse Polio Immunization Program the District had an achievement of 98.83% till date. The SMO also pointed out that the Health & Family Welfare Department had introduced Rotavirus vaccination in Mizoram this year after completion of District Level and State Level trainings. With this, Mizoram became the 12th State in India to introduce the Rotavirus Vaccine as a part of its Routine Immunization Program. The Department has so far given out RVV to 231 children in August 2019 and 192 children in September, 2019.

The Meeting also discussed targets under the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI). Through this programme, Government of India aims to reach each and every child up to two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunisation programme/UIP.  As one of the target districts under IMI, the District has 242 children and 58 pregnant women to be immunized under this programme during the month of December. The target population is mainly concentrated in the Western Belt of the District, with 4 villages under Bunghmun PHC, 7 villages under Lungsen PHC and 23 villages under Tlabung SDH to be covered during this initiative.

The Health Department officials also highlighted on various issues in the Western belt of Lunglei District especially in Bunghmun RD Block where there is inadequate transport infrastructure, compounded with weak mobile signal and an illiterate population with aversion to vaccination and other healthcare interventions. The Chairman agreed to urgently discuss the matter with the DC and the BDO’s concerned.