Ampati, February 13: A District Task Force on Immunization (DTFI), Child Death Review (CDR), and Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) review meeting was conducted at the DMHO conference hall under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills, Hema Nayak. The meeting was attended by Block Development Officers (BDOs) and officials from the Education, Social Welfare, and Health Departments.
During the review of routine immunization coverage, it was noted that full immunization for infants had reached an impressive 97% as of January 2025. However, coverage for children due for vaccines at 16-24 months, 5 years, 10 years, and 16 years remains below the desired levels. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the critical role of timely vaccination in disease prevention, immunity building, and overall health promotion.
To address this, a special immunization campaign will be launched in the fourth week of February 2025 at the village level to vaccinate eligible children. Additionally, a Td (Tetanus and Diphtheria) vaccination campaign is scheduled for the first and second weeks of March 2025 across all schools for 10 and 16-year-old students.
The meeting also included a Child Death Review, where relatives of deceased children were present. Dr. Noreen Sangma, DMCHO, provided a detailed report on child deaths recorded between April 2024 and January 2025, along with the actions taken in the last quarter. The Deputy Commissioner urged a collective effort from all departments to reduce the district’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). She also highlighted the importance of analyzing key indicators contributing to high IMR in specific facilities.
Furthermore, the DC stressed the need for wide dissemination of helpline number 14401, ensuring that the public can easily seek assistance and support whenever needed.
The district administration of South West Garo Hills remains committed to strengthening immunization efforts and improving child health outcomes through coordinated inter-departmental initiatives.
