Minister Pangnyu with health department officials during the review meeting at Kohima on November 20.
Nagaland health department strategises on improving vaccine coverage
Kohima, November 20 (MExN): Nagaland could be looking at another lockdown in the long run, if vaccination targets are not met, state Health and Family Welfare Minister S Pangnyu Phom said on Saturday.
Addressing a review meeting with district officials on COVID-19 vaccination, the Minister is said to have underscored that the state was second highest in terms of fatality rate and lowest in vaccination coverage, according to a press release from the IEC Bureau, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare. Stating that the reasons for low vaccination coverage were “mainly for hesitancy because many people are misguided and misinformed by unseen and seen elements,” Pangnyu advised the district officials to seek the help of church leaders, NGOs, civil societies organisations, and other organisations to address the problem, the release stated.
The Minister convened the meeting with the objective of gathering opinions and to find a way to increase vaccination in all districts. It was also an effort to find a way forward towards ‘Har Ghar Dastak’—the Centre’s recently launched campaign for special house-to-house COVID-19 vaccination focussed on those whose second dose is overdue, it said.
The Minister is also said to have reminded that the target for vaccination should be achieved before Christmas. ‘All Districts may have different problems but should solve it together... If the target is not achieved Nagaland may be compelled for lockdown in the long run,’ he added.
All the state’s health workers have been working hard to fight the pandemic for the past two years and faced a lot of criticism with no appreciation, he said while acknowledging their efforts and hard work. He also encouraged the officers to disclose all the problems faced in the respective districts in order to find a solution to the situation.
As per the release, Principal Secretary Amardeep S Bhatia stated that the meeting was an opportunity for everyone to share opinions and brainstorm better options and ways to tackle the current situation of low vaccination coverage. He mentioned that it is time to go beyond awareness but implement more intensive response. He advised that district officers should coordinate with all organisations and pass resolutions to improve vaccination status. Door to door campaign should also be strategised and medical officers should personally visit all concerned people, he added.
Principal Director Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao pronounced the vote of thanks and acknowledged the Minister and Principal Secretary for sparing time and sitting with district officers to find a solution and appreciated all suggestion and ideas shared, the release stated.
Without going into details, the release stated that the State Immunization Officer Dr Ritu Thurr gave a presentation on COVID-19 vaccination scenario in Nagaland and later all district officers discussed the ongoing strategies and problems faced in their respective districts.
