Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the immunisation programme — Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) — at Vadnagar in Gujarat on Sunday.

The programme aims at to reach at every child below two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunisation programme.

The special drive will focus on 90% immunisation coverage in select districts and cities by December 2018.

Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijaybhai Rupani, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda, Ex-Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Bhai Patel  along with other leaders were also present at the launch function along with other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Narendra Modi stated that the Government has made immunization a social movement. The Prime Minister made a strong appeal to all those present in the audience and the country men and women to own the programme in order to make all efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality.

Speaking at the function, Nadda said that improving the health status of the children of the country is amongst the top priorities of the Government. Nadda informed that the four phases of Mission Indradhanush have reached to more than 2.53 crore children and 68 lakh pregnant women with life-saving vaccines including 5.21 lakh children & 1.27 lakh pregnant women in Gujarat.

Through this mission, we have accelerated our progress towards our target of 90% full immunisation coverage, he stated. Earlier the increase in full immunisation coverage was 1% per year which has increased to 6.7% per year through the first two phases of ‘Mission Indradhanush’.

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At the function, the Prime Minister also dedicated the GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar to the nation and launched the Innovative Mobile Phone Technology for Community Health Operation (ImTeCHO) for improving coverage of community based maternal, neonatal and infant health services to reduce neonatal and infant mortality in Gujarat by empowering health staff through use of innovative mobile phone application.

GMERS Medical College serves nearly 400-500 outdoor patients and 80-100 indoor patients daily.