(a) whether it is a fact that only 11 percent of
children upto the age of two years have been given
vaccine under immunisation programme in various
States;
(b) if so, the State-wise details alongwith the
reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government propose to speed up the
programme by involving NGOs to achieve the target
set for the purpose; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. C.P. THAKUR)
(a)to(d): A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 224 FOR 05.12.2001.
The Universal Immunization Programme, launched
in 1985, covering six vaccine preventable diseases
viz. Diphtheria, Pertusis, Neonatal Tetanus,
Poliomyelitis, Measles and childhood Tuberculosis is
being implemented throughout the country. This
programme covered all districts of the country
during 1989-90.
Every year, the programme coverage is evaluated
by independent agencies through UNICEF. The State-
wise coverage of fully immunized children during
2000-01 (State-wise details in Annexure) shows the
national average of about 53.8%. The coverage in
certain States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and
Jharkhand is below the 40% level.
The low coverage in certain States are ascribed
to (a) large scale vacancies of Auxilliary Nurse
Midwives and supervisory functionaries (b)
inadequate State medical infrastructure
commensurate with population increase (c) inadequate
supervision and monitoring (d) low priority for
routine immunization programme vis-a-vis other
programmes on the campaign mode, and, (e) inadequate
social mobilization and Information, Education and
Communication.
The Government has taken several steps for
improving routine immunization in the country. A
major World Bank aided programme for Strengthening
Routine Immunization was launched last year. Under
this programme special assistance and facilities are
being provided for proper implementation of the
routine immunization programme, by way of
strengthening monitoring, mobility, cold chain,
injection safety and supervision. In identified 151
poor performing districts, special facilities are
being provided through a scheme for strengthening
RCH outreach services for reviving weekly sessions
on immunization at the village level by the ANMs and
for providing adequate POL and mobility support for
the staff involved in the immunization programme.
This scheme has provisions for involving private
practitioners and NGOs in the routine immunization
programme. The NGO participation has always been a
hall-mark of the Pulse Polio Programme.
ANNEXURE
Evaluated Coverage 1999-2001 +
A COMPARATIVE STATEMENT
FULLY IMMUNIZED
State 2001
1 A&N Islands 91.9 2 Andhra Pradesh 41.7 3 Arunachal Pradesh 62.9 4 Assam 60.4 5 Bihar 10.0 6 Chandigarh 82.7 7 Chhatishgarh 70.4 8 D&N Haveli 80.8 9 Daman & Diu 86.7 10 Delhi 70.6 11 Goa 93.3 12 Gujrat 59.3 13 Haryana 57.7 14 Himachal Pradesh 92.5 15 J&K 84.6 16 Jharkhand 24.2 17 Karnataka 59.9 18 Kerala 88.7 19 Lakshadweep 94.2 20 M.P. 50.0 21 Maharashtra 85.6 22 Manipur 48.3 23 Meghalaya 53.3 24 Mizoram 78.8 25 Nagaland 44.2 26 Orissa 52.5 27 Pondicherry 90.0 28 Punjab 72.5 29 Rajasthan 30.2 30 Sikkim 76.7 31 Tamil Nadu 87.1 32 Tripura 56.8 33 Uttranchal 46.3 34 U.P. 19.2 35 West Bengal 56.4
All India 53.8
+ Conducted by independent agency under UNICEF