Times of India
02 July 2010
By Shailvee Sharda
Lucknow, India

According To Data Prepared Under National Rural Health Mission, State Ranks Lowest Among Top 10 Priority States In Routine Immunisation Coverage Against Life–threatening Diseases
Even Bihar has outdone UP. Seven out of ten children in Uttar Pradesh lack protection against life threatening diseases like BCG, DPT and others. Of the ten high focus states in the country, Uttar Pradesh ranks lowest as far as routine immunisation (RI) coverage is concerned.

Worse is that while other states in the category have picked up well in the last one decade, UP still lags behind. The fact has been brought to fore by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) state data sheets published in May 2010.

Bihar is an inspiration for UP. It stood at an immunisation rate of 10.7 in the early 1990s when the first national family health survey was conducted. In less than 20 years, the state has been able to touch the mark of 33 per cent. Compared to this, UP reported 19.8% RI rate during NFHS–1 while the recent report of the same puts the state at a rate of 2.3 out of ten.

Even Jharkhand, the offshoot of Bihar is a tell–tale worth appreciation. The state has been able to achieve 35% RI rate as per NFHS–3. And shockingly, it began with a less than one out of ten children fully immunised.

Madhya Pradesh and Orissa have also left up far behind. While MP rose from 22.9% in NFHS–1 to 40% in NFHS–3, Orissa fared even better. The land of lord Jagannatha took a giant leap from 21.1% RI rate in 1990s to 52% in the present times.

UP’s poor performance was discussed in detail at a departmental review meeting here on Wednesday. Chief medical officers of all districts, chief medical superintendents of all 71 government hospitals and district project officers deliberated upon the probable reasons behind.
The usual excuse of ‘‘personnel busy with polio programmes’’ topped the list. As a way out, the health department has decided to address the issue on a war–footing. ‘‘A state–level campaign titled ‘Jachchabachcha suraksha abhiyaan’ would be started wherein the NRHM work force would be used to track all expecting mothers and their newborn children,’’ said a CMS who attended the meeting.

Though health officials refrained from comments, they shared that the campaign is expected to be launched on Independence Day. ‘‘The entire July would be spent in the preparation work. The chief aim would of course be to check high rates of maternal, neonatal, infant and child mortality rates in the state,’’ said an officer.

If the state acts on the suggestions given by immunisation officers at ministry of health and family welfare (MOHFW), they may think in terms of catchup campaigns. ‘‘This concept involves holding a second line of drives to support the main–action plan. For instance, organising a vitamin–a administration or deworming drive along with general immunisation drive,’’ explained an MOHFW officer.