Immunization
The current health scenario of India
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare consists of the following departments:
- Health & Family Welfare
- Health Research
- AIDS Control
- Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH)
Along with all the other health facilities, India was in desperate need of strong immunization programme that can cater to its large population, spread across rural and urban sectors. There was a majority of population that does not have access to the immunization facilities, thus, they used to face different health problems in life. The Indian government decided to take a corrective action and declared the year 2012 as the Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization (RI) in India. With the establishment of Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU), the implementation of MoHFW’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan for Immunization has been made possible.
ITSU has worked towards designing effective strategies for implementation of UIP by improving the access, quality and coverage of the routine immunization programmes. It particularly focuses on Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to make existing as well as future vaccines within their reach.
Child Vaccination Program For Under-5 Children
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, For A Better Health System In India
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare i.e. Swasthya Aur Parivar Kalyan Mantralaya is a department of health and family welfare under Government of India. It comprises of two departments, Department of Health & Family Welfare and Department of Health Research, both are headed by a Secretary to the Government of India.
Universal Immunization Program in India has set targets to achieve full immunization of all target-age children and their mothers. The program aims to deliver vaccines to each state and district in India. It was in 2012 when India declared the year as the Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization (RI). So to continue the efforts of Universal Immunization Program in India, with the guidance of MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) and PHFI (Public Health Foundation of India), a unit called as Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) was established in collaboration with other partners.
The efforts by ITSU are being made with national programs to deliver an impactful change in the health system. The core aim of ITSU is to improve the access, reach, quality and coverage of the routine immunization program in India. The major focus is on the key states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh for a proper vaccine delivery system, because these states have the most vulnerable populations, pregnant women and children who are from the financially-weaker families and they can’t afford to spend money for health care and facilities. The awareness about essential vaccines is also provided to such families for a healthy and better India.
Immunization Coverage Monitoring Tool
Recommended Vaccines For Immunization In India 2016
Vaccination defends potentially deadly diseases. It develops and increase the immunity and prevents the spread of some infectious diseases like smallpox, polio, tetanus, etc. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the licensed vaccines are currently available which can prevent or at least contribute to the prevention and control of twenty-five preventable infections of the world.
In India, major percentage of the people are either unimmunized or partially immunized which leads to early deaths, critical sufferings, etc. The immunization cycle for about 13 vaccines (in India) starts since the birth of the child; also vaccines are given to the would be mothers also. Immunization is India is essential to protect the children from various diseases, theses diseases are either curable or incurable but at least prevention from the infections can be taken care of.
The recommended vaccination chart for immunization in India is being made by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) who critically analyze and study about the global trends, about effect of various vaccines. The list of recommended vaccines is made for all the Indian children. According to the Immunization schedule in India, the recommended vaccines listed are; BCG, HepB, Poliovirus, DTP, Hib, PCV, RV, Typhoid, MMR, Varicella, HepA, Tdap and HPV.
If in any circumstances, doses are missed or delayed, the catch-up schedule for vaccination in India can solve your problem. IAP has created the catch-up chart to make sure that all the vaccines are given to the children, even after certain dose is missed out or delayed.
Vaccines Management and Supply process in India
For the maintenance of vaccine logistics and supply chain, eVIN has created a system which ensures that the stocks are available in every district, on time, without any compromise in the quality. The efforts done in monitoring and maintaining records of the vaccines, show growth in vaccines deliveries.
Source: http://prsync.com/itsu-org/vaccines-management-and-supply-process-in-india-1152446/
Putting Immunization on top priority list
India has made tremendous progress in delivering vaccination to target-age mothers and children, considerably regulating the spread of preventable diseases in the country. Even though a country with vast expanse of health infrastructure in dire need of revamp, Govt. made sure that the immunization program is carried out with precision through complete tracking and accountability. The monitoring mechanism makes sure that every child and mother is provided with the vaccination that is transported in temperature controlled conditions so that the efficacy of the dosage is not lost.
Govt and State machinery have sensitized the health workers on the ground to manage the vaccination program on a war footing but with the stated timelines of delivering to the promise of complete immunization by 2017. Not only that the govt. is investing in modernizing the health infrastructure in the country.
Immunization Technical Support Unit in collaboration with Melinda-Bill Gates foundation is working to deliver vaccination to the remotest corners of the country with the target of achieving a disease free India by 2017.
Properly managing surveillance on the ground, reaching the deserving candidates, hiring health professionals to carry the effort and maintaining the due-diligence process is what makes this effort a commendable one which will turn India into a case-study worth following for any developing nation looking to manage such a situation. This year the immunization has witnessed a jump of over 6% with people actively taking part in the drive after being educated about the benefits of vaccination. With govt at the helm and prime minister himself monitoring the progress, the effort has already pushed traction with statistics already showing marked improvements. The govt machinery and the efforts of health professionals are bearing fruit and will help India achieve its dream of a disease-free country real soon.
ITSU 