The health department of Sambalpur will launch a massive drive against Measles Rubella (MR) otherwise known as German Measles all over the district. The department has targeted all the schools of the district with more than 1,80,000 students studying.
At the same time 80,000 children from the community will also be benefitted from this programme, informed the CDMO of Sambalpur Dr KK Gupta today in a media conference. Dr Gupta further said that children from nine months to 15 years would be included in the vaccination programme so that the dreaded disease, mostly involving children could be totally averted.
“If a girl takes this vaccine, it will be a safe blessing for her and the future child she will give birth to after marriage. Any girl who has taken this vaccine will give birth toa healthy child after pregnancy,” the CDMO informed.
He further said that if a pregnant mother suffers from MR, there is every possibility that she will give birth to handicapped or mentally retarded child. But if she has taken the vaccine earlier, such unfortunate thing would never happen. Hence, the vaccine is more useful to the girls, the CDMO Dr Gupta said.
“Further, not a single child-boy or girl will be left out since 224 vaccinators and 25 supervisors under the direct supervision of the senior doctors of the headquarters hospital will work with sincerity for the programme’s success,” Dr. Gupta said.
“State government has allotted Rs 36 for this programme which will begin on 29 January and close on 27 March,” informed Mrs Runi Patnaik, the ADPHCO of the district headquarters hospital. The ADMO Dr Kuber Charan Mohanty also spoke on the arrangements with schools, ANM workers, and related people.