AP Govt to protect children from diarrhoea
Hyderabad, April 7 (INN): Ahead of the launch of the Rotavirus vaccine in Andhra Pradesh, over 40 journalists from the national and state media were briefed about the importance of new vaccines in reducing under-five child mortality and improving child survival at a media consultation on Rotavirus Vaccine in the city today.
Organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and UNICEF, the workshop was addressed by senior representatives from the State Government, UNICEF, WHO, and other experts.
Addressing the journalists, Child Health and Immunization Joint Director Dr Vanisri Saride said, 'Andhra Pradesh Government will now protect the state's children from severe diarrhoea with the Rotavirus Vaccine. This vaccine, which was available till now only at private health facilities in the state, will soon be a part of the routine immunization schedule of the State Government's Universal Immunization Programme.'
UNICEF Health Specialist Dr Sanjeev Upadhaya said, 'Rotavirus alone is responsible for 40% of the severe diarrhea cases, and kills 1 child every 4 minutes in India. We are confident that the introduction of this vaccine will bring down the Infant Mortality Rate in the state.'
Andhra Pradesh has shown 17 per cent decline in the Under-5 mortality between 2009 and 2012 (SRS 2013). Yet each year diarrhoea affects 8 per cent children under five years (RSOC 2013-14), which is a high number.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is introducing a series of new initiatives nationally. New and more effective vaccines like Rotavirus vaccine, Inactivated Polio Vaccine (injectable) and bivalent oral polio vaccines, not available in the public health programme earlier, are being introduced in a phased manner in the full (RI) programme.
The Rotavirus vaccine was nationally launched in the Universal Immunization Programme in Odisha on March 26. Besides Odisha, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, the vaccine will be provided, in the first phase of roll out, through the national immunization programme, to all children in Himachal Pradesh. Later, it will be exp
News Posted: 7 April, 2016
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