A section of the participants who attended the one-day State Level Multi Stakeholder meeting in Kohima on January 29.
Kohima, January 30 (MExN): Stakeholders from various fields gathered together to discuss ways to amplify the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination under the collaborative initiative of the Indian Social Responsibility Network (ISRN), John Snow India (JSI) and the Nagaland Department of Health & Family Welfare on January 29.
Held at the LCS Building in Kohima, the one-day State Level Multi Stakeholder meeting was attended by representatives from different churches, student leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, NGOs and development partner UNICEF, a press release informed on Sunday.
As per the release, State Project Manager (JSI) Egumsing Nsarangbe, while delivering the keynote address, thanked the participants for attending the meeting and said that it is a social responsibility as an individual and more as a leader to understand the present COVID scenario, the importance of vaccines and to educate people who are misinformed and misled by various false news. He said that it is high time for all to understand the situation and play their part as leaders, while calling on the participants to be open and have a fruitful discussion.
Dr Ritu Thurr, State Immunization Officer (SIO), Health Department gave a presentation where he spoke on COVID-19 vaccine prioritization in India, how and when exactly the largest vaccine drive was rolled out for different categories of people. He also presented the District wise and State Coverage and the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) status as per COWIN. Addressing reasons for the comparatively low rate of vaccine uptake in Nagaland, the SIO also spoke on the steps taken to increase vaccine uptake in far flung areas in Nagaland districts which include the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ Campaign. Dr Thurr is said to have thanked the ISRN, an NGO empaneled by John Snow India (JSI), and many other NGOs who are assisting and supporting the Department in amplifying COVID Vaccination in the State. Dr Ritu Thurr also spoke on the steps taken to reduce vaccine hesitancy in Nagaland, the release stated.
Communication Officer for JSI Rose facilitated the productive discussion hour while invocation prayer was delivered by Pastor Kughavi from Nagaland Christian Revival Church and Kawang Lowang, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer; JSI delivered the vote of thanks.
Earlier the programme was chaired by Martha Dukru, State Coordinator, ISRN by introducing the State Health Officials, development partners and local dignitaries. She highlighted the agenda and requested the key stakeholders for solution driven discussion, the release stated.
