Child immunisation rate poor in U’khand

Tribune News Service 

Dehradun, September 29 

Uttarakhand has failed in its determination to fully immunise its infants and children (age group of 12-23 months). This has even been reflected in the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4) in 2015-2016.

The percentage of children in the age group of 12-23 months who received the vital immunisation during the NFHS-4 survey dipped 3 per cent as compared to the National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) in 2005-2006.

According to the statistics, the percentage of children (age 12-23 months) fully immunised for BCG, measles, three doses of polio, DPT and received Vitamin A supplement during NFHS-4 survey was 57.7 per cent, while during the NFHS-3 survey, it was 60 per cent. 

Due to high infant mortality rate and high maternal deaths, Uttarakhand figured among the high focus states for receiving special attention under the NHM. During this phase, while Uttarakhand has managed to considerably control maternal deaths by focusing on increasing institutional deliveries under the National Health Mission, the routine immunisation programme, as part of the overall health of children, has not received the due attention. 

The focus on routine immunisation is essential to save children from six life-threatening but vaccine preventable diseases. According to health experts, scientific evidence shows effective routine immunisation coverage can play a key role in checking infant and child mortality. In Uttarakhand, the immunisation coverage has slipped due to poor follow-up and poor community participation. 

“The challenge lies in getting children back for the second and third dose of immunisation, which can only be done by increasing community participation and strengthening follow-up of children,” said Dr DS Rawat, child specialist, Doon Hospital.

Similarly, the prevalence of diarrhoea reported during the NFHS-4 survey in children under the age of five years was 17 per cent while during the NFHS-3 survey, it was 12.8 per cent. The increasing prevalence of diarrhoea among children, as shown in the NFHS-4 survey, puts a question mark over the manner in which the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which is now National Health Mission (NHM), is being run in the state.