Mission Indradhanush

The Mission Indradhanush, an immunisation programme, was launched in 33 districts of northeastern states on Tuesday. It may be recalled that J P Nadda, the Union Health & Family Welfare Minister, launched it on 25th December, 2014.

The Mission Indradhanush, depicting seven colours of the rainbow, aims to cover all those children by 2020 who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases which include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B. India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) was established in the year 1985 and provides vaccination against these life-threatening diseases. In 2013, more than 20 per cent of all child deaths in the world were recorded in India.

Pneumonia and diarrhoea were together responsible for as many as 3,00,000 deaths among children in the age group of zero to five. The most disheartening thing to know is that nearly one third of all unimmunized children in the world live in India.

The Central government has identified 201 high focus districts in the country in the first phase which have nearly 50% of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children. These districts will be targeted by intensive efforts to improve the routine immunization coverage.

J P Nadda informed that between 2009-2013 immunization coverage has increased from 61% to 65%, indicating only 1% increase in coverage every year. To accelerate the process of immunization by covering 5% and more children every year, the Mission Mode has been adopted to achieve target of full coverage by 2020.

A focused and systematic immunization drive will be conducted through a “catch-up” campaign mode where the aim is to cover all the children who have been left out or missed out for immunization. Under Mission Indradhanush, four special vaccination campaigns will be conducted between January and June 2015 with intensive planning and monitoring of these campaigns.

The learnings from the successful implementation of the polio programme will be applied in planning and implementation of the mission. While 201 districts will be covered in the first phase, 297 will be targeted for the second phase in the year 2015. WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and other donor partners are extending support to the programme.