20 lakh children given Rota Virus vaccine to prevent death due to dysentery: Health Minister Eknath Shinde
The Health Minister also inaugurated the primary health center (PHC) new building at Kasara on this occasion. Five children were administered Rota Virus vaccine at the hands of the Health Minister to mark the launching of the vaccination program. The program was attended by MLA Pandurang Barora, Thane ZP Chairman Subhash Pawar and other dignitaries.
Children up to two years of age are more likely to suffer from dysentery caused by the Rota Virus. It has been observed that forty percent of the total dysentery patients admitted are found to be children suffering from Rota Virus. To check this epidemic, the Rota Virus vaccine is included in the regular vaccination program from today as per the instructions from the Union Government. Accordingly training is provided to health employees in 34 districts and 27 municipal corporation areas. 1.86 lakh officers, employees, Asha workers, and Anganwadi Sevikas have been imparted training at taluka, district and state level, Shinde said.
The state is supplied with 4.40 lakh doses of the vaccine at present and material required for them, the Health Minister said and added that this vaccine was administered by the private medical officers. But as it involved a major expenditure this is now given from the government health centers from today free of cost. The children up to one year of age will be given this vaccine dose thrice in the sixth, tenth and the fourteenth week of his/her age, the Health Minister clarified.
The incident of dysentery among children was more in tribal areas like Kasara. And launching the Rota Virus vaccination from this area is a positive and welcome step, the Health Minister said. The health services in the state are being strengthened and funds will be sought from the Chief Minister for completing incomplete health centre buildings, he added. He appealed to the people to help in taking health care services to the last strata of the society.
The move to fill vacant posts of doctors in health centers in the state is going on. Process to appoint 840 posts of MBBS and Specialists is going on. Similarly, BAMS doctors working in remote and tribal areas are made permanent. Efforts are on to increase human force in health department, he said.
The facility of dialysis is being made available in rural areas in sub-district dispensaries. The process to transform sub centers into Arogya Vardhini Kendras is going on in the state and so far 100 Arogya Vardhini Kendras have been activated, the Health Minister said.
The Health Minister also inaugurated the new buildings of Arogya Vardhini Kendras at Kasara and Vajreshwari. These centers will provide quality healthcare services to the people in this tribal area, the Health Minister said adding that PHCs are important for rural health services and they are being made competent.
MLA Barora, Principal Secretary of Health Dr Pradip Vyas, Director Health Dr Archana Patil also spoke on this occasion. Office-bearers of Thane Zilla Parishad, public representatives, Jt. Director, Health Dr Satish Pawar and other dignitaries were present on this occasion. The Health Minister and other dignitaries planted trees in the premises of Kasara Health Centre. The Minister also visited rural health center at Khardi.
