Ampati: The South West Garo Hills district administration has announced plans to launch a special immunization campaign in the fourth week of February, targeting eligible children at the village level.
During a review meeting on routine immunization coverage, it was reported that full immunization for infants had reached an impressive 97% as of January 2025.
However, immunization rates for children due for vaccines at ages 16-24 months, 5 years, 10 years, and 16 years remain below the desired levels.
Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak emphasised the importance of timely vaccinations in preventing diseases, building immunity, and promoting overall health.
The review meeting, chaired by Nayak, took place at the DMHO conference hall and was attended by Block Development Officers (BDOs) as well as officials from the Education, Social Welfare, and Health Departments.
A Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) vaccination campaign for 10 and 16-year-old students is also planned for the first and second weeks of March 2025, to be conducted across all schools in the district.
In addition to the immunization review, a Child Death Review (CDR) was carried out, with relatives of deceased children present to provide valuable insights.
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Dr. Noreen Sangma, DMCHO, presented a detailed report on child deaths recorded from April 2024 to January 2025 and discussed actions taken in the previous quarter.
The deputy commissioner called for a united effort from all departments to address the district’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), emphasizing the need to analyse contributing factors in specific facilities.
Furthermore, deputy commissioner Nayak stressed the importance of increasing public awareness of the helpline number 14401, ensuring that residents can easily access support and assistance when needed.
The district administration of South West Garo Hills remains committed to enhancing immunization efforts and improving child health outcomes through coordinated initiatives across various departments.
