Mission Indradhanush, For Seven Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

As lack of immunization result in critical diseases leading to deaths, many times, full immunization is considered as an important part of everyone’s life. It is, basically, the right of every child as major part of the immunization is given from the time of birth only. In 1985, the Government of India launched the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) which is one of the largest health programs for immunization to every child in India.

Despite being in operation for over 30 years, UIP has been able to give full immunization to only 65% children in the first year of their life, and then the increase in coverage has stagnated in the past 5 years to an average of 1% every year. To achieve full immunization coverage for all children, Mission Indradhanush was launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India on 25^th December, 2014.

In India, about 5 lakh children die every year due to diseases that are vaccine-preventable. And, around 89 lakh children remain at risk, reason being, they are either unimmunized or partially immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. That’s why, to reduce child mortality rate, full immunization is essential.

This mission ensures that all the children under 2 years of age and pregnant women get full immunization, at least the necessary 7 vaccinations for the diseases which are preventable:- Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Polio, Hepatitis B, Measles.

Mission Indradhanush depicts seven colours of the rainbow and aims to immune the children from the above mentioned seven vaccine-preventable diseases.

In the first phase of the mission, the Government identified 201 high focus districts across 28 states in the country. These states were having peak number of children who were partially immunized or unimmunized. There were four rounds in total, both in the first and second phases of the mission.

For the second phase, the target was set for 352 districts which included 279 mid priority districts, 33 districts from the North East states and 40 districts from phase one where a high number of missed out children were detected.

Timely Vaccination Is The Key To Good Health

Good health is important as it is the key to a good life, and, good nutrition is the key to a healthy lifestyle. If a person is healthy, he will have a strong working heart, muscles, bones and social life too. In India, around 8 in 10 people are suffering from health issues. The root of good health and healthy living is timely immunization to children and would be mothers and most of the people are either unaware of this or are not capable enough to have vaccinations properly and on time.

The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) of the Government of India is working for the betterment in health. They aim to achieve full immunization stage of everyone, especially the target-age children and mothers in India. They are providing the same through state-and district-specific delivery of vaccines and reaching out to the maximum people, mainly the underprivileged ones. 2012 was declared as the Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization (RI) in India. This was the time when the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, started their efforts around immunization and MoHFW entered into MoU, Memorandum of Understanding along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Then came ITSU, Immunization Technical Support Unit, established collaboratively by MoU, MoHFW and PHFI (Public Health Foundation of India), in collaboration with other partners as well. The efforts are being made to make a real change and impact on the health system, various national programs are being organized with the government and other stakeholders including civil society organizations. BMGF gives the funding support to ITSU, which helps ITSU to provide techno-managerial support for scaling up UIP.

ITSU also enables the system strengthening which aims for quality services and they support the implementation of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Multi-Year Strategic Plan for Immunization. They are trying to improve the access, reach, quality and coverage of the routine immunization program in India, focusing majorly on states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for complete vaccination system.

Major Initiatives Under National Health Mission

Launched in 2005 by the government of India, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) deals with the health needs of underprivileged and under-served rural areas. Firstly, it was projected with addressing the health requirements of 18 states that had been known as having poor public health signals. Later Union Cabinet vide its decision dated May 1, 2013 has accepted the launch of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a Sub-mission of an over-arching National Health Mission (NHM), with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) being the other Sub-mission of National Health Mission. Following are the few initiatives under National Health Mission (NHM).

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA)
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have been involved under the objective for creating a link between the community and the health system. ASHA, initiated by National Health Mission (NHM), is the first port of call for any health related needs of underprivileged sections of the population, especially women and children.

Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Patient Welfare Committee)
Initiated by National Health Mission, the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Patient Welfare Committee) is a group of trustees for the hospitals to handle the affairs of the hospital. These committees are being financed through unbound fund to attempt activities for patient welfare.

Health Care Contractors
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has given health care contractors to under-served places, and has been engaged in educating and grooming to prosper the skill set of doctors at strategically located facilities identified by the states. Likewise, due importance is provided to capacity building of nursing staff and subsidiary workers such as ANMs.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was made by National Health Mission to lessen maternal mortality among pregnant women by promoting them to offer in government health facilities. Under the scheme cash assistance is offered to eligible pregnant women for providing birth in a government health facility.

Newest Areas in Vaccine Research

The Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Routine Immunisation(RI), Government of India is working on the Vaccination and health department.  Under Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), MoHFW and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), target of providing vaccines to every district of the states has been a successful drive. The motive is to provide all the essential vaccines to the children and mothers, specifically. Public Health Foundation of India works on the social, cultural and economic determinants of health and efficient health systems.

Public Health Foundation of India help in various sectors like Education, Training & Research and Policy Development in the area of Public Health. This foundation provides essential health packages for India.
The new areas have been discovered in current vaccine research which contains very useful information: New effective vaccines are in development which will be used for the diseases yet to be controlled; DNA Vaccines and Use of Adjuvants are the new technologies which will be highly beneficial; Easy methods of delivery of the vaccines e.g. aerosol vaccines, vaccine patches, etc.

DNA Vaccines are very effective and has a long-lasting immunity. These vaccines have induced immunity in the injection which make a specific portion of the pathogen in the vaccine recipient. Because of its very few side effects, the vaccine only uses the necessary component of the bacteria or virus to make a very small amount of antigen. Also, the another research going on is the development of a vaccine for the vulnerable and high-risk groups such as pregnant women, new-born babies and those having very less immunity strength in their bodies. The vaccine additives such as Adjuvants stimulate the immune system and its discovery can make the existing vaccines better in effectiveness. For diseases such as influenza, cancers and HIV, several adjuvants are under clinical trials and practices, to ensure the best Vaccination in the coming future.

ITSU: Strengthening the health workforce

As the name states, the Immunization Technical Support Unit aims to achieve full immunization of children and mothers in India. ITSU came into picture with the efforts of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Public Health Foundation of India in 2012. This unit works in collaboration with organizations and research institutes to strengthen the health workforce in the nation.
Health care is said to be the right of every citizen and deserves basic health facilities as and when needed. For providing the same, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiates various health schemes and programs for women, children, senior citizen, etc. As the part of such initiatives, ITSU was developed with core purpose of:

• Designing strategies to enhance the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) of the Government of India.
• Strengthening Routine Immunization in the nation to give right of basic health amenities to one and all.
• Create effective vaccine delivery system by supporting the existing ventures and extend help in creating new ones to broaden the reach of the cause.

ITSU is based on a unique structure which works as a strong team. It can be understood as:

• A multi-disciplinary technical team of experts and advisors from various segments likemanagement, research, legal and communications.
• This unit works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Department of Health and Family welfare to work towards its defined goals.
• It drives its learning’s from other initiatives to develop robust strategies.

ITSU acts as a catalyst in identifying and addressing the needs of growing health issues in the nation, in order to develop a workforce that works towards delivering real change in the health system.

Milestones achieved in complete Immunization effort

Government of India’s effort to completely eradicate preventable diseases is making a commendable progress towards achieving the goal of a disease-free India.

Source : http://www.free-press-release.com/news-milestones-achieved-in-complete-immunization-effort-1464352456.html

ITSU a Complete Immunization for Mothers & Children

The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) has established the Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It took place after a memorandum of understanding that was signed by the MoHFW and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The main goal of the Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) as visualized by the Indian Government when it declared 2012 as the Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization, is to accomplish the target of complete immunization of mothers and children in the target age in each state in India. It will be attained with the delivery of vaccines in each and every district and state in the country.

The Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) established by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) is also responsible to work and coordinate with the other partners and stakeholders to spread more awareness among the general people. It also works towards streamlining the total vaccine manufacturing and delivery process. It offers active support to the Multi-Year Strategic Plan for Vaccination which was designed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It works with the government and non-governmental agencies as well as local and national civic bodies to make an extensive system and road map for efficient delivery of vaccines to the target demographic within the stipulated time frame in cost effective modes that don’t compromise on the quality and standard of the vaccines.

The Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) made by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) has a team of experts from different walks who work at the state level to apply successful communications, awareness, advocacy, research and management initiatives. Even expert care is taken to make sure that the immunization program reaches even the most rural areas in every state in the country. It involves in a dynamic procedure of learning from same initiatives internationally to make ways to work in the local context. It also hosts need-based and custom-made training so that the goals of the program can meet met with no compromise. It has been successful at utilizing the vaccination program efficaciously.

Role of Government in Public Health Care

Universal Immunization Program is an vaccination program organized by the Government of India basically for following diseases i.e. Tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, tetanus, pneumonia, Diarrhoea, hepatitis B, measles,etc. Universal Immunization Program is one of the largest of its kind in world in terms of vaccines, number of heiress reached, number of immunization sessions organized.

Several steps taken by the government to ensure complete vaccination of all children across the country and to increase awareness among the community about the benefits of the vaccination drives are:
1.)Free Vaccination to children and pregnant women.
2.)Government has been providing funds to states for mobility support, alternate vaccine delivery and mobilization of children by Accredited Social Health Activist(ASHA), etc.
3.)Government conducted Special Immunization Week (SIW) from time to time in areas with pockets of low immunization coverage.
4.) Government is implementing many missions that target area which is either partial immunization or no immunization.
After the success of the above program and mission, are:
1.Immunization coverage rapidly increased.
2.Improved service quality.
3.An introduction to a district-wise system for monitoring performance.

There is a strong commitment in the country for achieving the Universal Immunization coverage for the elimination of targeted disease.
A complete information on the disease and its likely outcome along with the benefits of the vaccine must be given to parents while prescribing and using the vaccine in a given child. At National Level, Immunization Technical Support Unit, is providing support to Universal Immunization Program for its successful implementation.

Contribution of Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) towards better health opportunities

The National Health Mission has been an important vehicle in uplifting the health condition across India, especially in the rural areas. It has made some phenomenal achievements through various schemes and plans launched under its domain.

One of the major health strengthening unit of the National Health Mission is its MMU or Mobile Medical Unit. In a country like India where the reach of public health care is very low and private health care exorbitantly expensive, the Mobile Medical Units of National Health Mission has ensured easy accessibility to health resources.

The MMUs usually have two or three vehicles which are equipped with medical facilities. While one vehicle is used for the transport of medical or paramedical personnel, the other vehicle is used for carrying across accessories and basic laboratory facilities. This vehicle usually consists of machines which allow doctors and medical practitioners to perform the required action if the need arises. The Diagnostic Equipments which are normally carried in the van are X-Ray and ultrasound machines, ECG machine, and generators.

These medical units have a scheduled routine as to where they will travel to. It thus visits various locations on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. The MMU is a very necessary program as it is helping to provide impartial medical facilities to every section of the society.

Making a Healthier India

The Indian economy’s greatest wealth is the people. With millions of people in the country, and the number always on the rise, it has become difficult for the central government to maintain proper healthcare services for the entire population. This is the reason why the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has formed the Immunization technical Support Unit or ITSU for immunizing the country; in collaboration with other partner organizations.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) devises various guidelines and programmes to fulfil the goal of immunizing the population. India holds the worldwide share of 21% of deaths and these are mostly because of diseases that can be prevented with vaccines. ITSU is a unit that focuses on not just improving the availability of medicine, but as well as enhancing the institutional capacity for effective strategic development of a society which is not only healthier, but also is well aware.
This is a holistic approach by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and a joint effort of the health workers, community head, politicians and parents, besides the government. This step taken by the ministry is not only helpful, but should be rather taken as an opportunity by the citizens of the country to learn better, know better and approach the services by the government better.
This is absolutely essential to build a healthier country, where no one dies of vaccine-preventable and easily curable diseases.

About ITSU:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Under the guidance of this MoU, MoHFW and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) collaboratively established an Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) in collaboration with other partners. The core purpose of ITSU is to enhance institutional capacity for designing effective strategies for implementation of UIP by improving the access, reach, quality and coverage of the routine immunization program in India (with a focus on key states including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh) and creating an efficient vaccine delivery system, for both existing and future vaccines.