58% immunisation rate in rural areas, 67% in urban areas of India: Union Government
Union government has announced that, the current immunisation rate in rural areas is around 58 per cent while it is over 67 per cent in urban regions of the country.
It was announced by Union Health Minister J P Nadda on 12 May 2015 in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
As per the written reply,
- Lack of awareness among parents and non- availability of vaccines is the main reasons behind the low rate of immunization in the country.
- In order to promote immunisation programme in India, government had allocated funds of Rs 221.70 crore, Rs 188.91 crore and Rs 189.26 crore for year 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively.
- While, government had not allocated any funds for the development of new vaccines in the last three years.
- To improve immunisation rates, government has taken elaborating steps.
- Union Government also is providing flexible funds to states for mobility support, alternate vaccine delivery and mobilisation of children accredited social health activists.
- Government also had conducted special immunisation weeks in areas with pockets of low immunisation coverage in the country.
- Under ‘Mission Indradhanush’, government has implemented immunization drives to target areas with partial immunisation and no immunisation in 201 high-focus districts to protect children against seven life-threatening diseases including pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, tuberculosis and Hepatitis B.
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Month: Current Affairs - May, 2015