Kohima: Nagaland state has the lowest rate of immunization in the country (33.6%) as per Rapid Survey of Children (RSOC) 2013-14. Given this situation, it has become necessary for the state to pay special attention and additional impetus to the ongoing efforts to increase the demand for vaccination.

Towards this, a partnership workshop with religious leaders to improve demand for immunization and maternal and child health service in Nagaland was held here at Hotel Vivor.

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Nagaland Christian Revival Church and Catholic Association, Nagaland have been identified by the state health care system as partners to work towards this cause.

Addressing the inaugural function, Health & Family Welfare Minister, P Longon said the government is continuously making efforts to build a generation fit for future challenges, with the competence to excel in their careers, economic, social and spiritual life.

He said that to achieve health for all, the programmes directed towards welfare of the people needs community ownership and partnership. The Minister admitted that immunization coverage in the state is low, and attributed this to factors like low demand for immunization services, awareness/information gap and fear of adverse events following immunization. He further stated that demand for routine immunization is low, and parents/families do not know about vaccines.

He assured that the state government is making efforts to engage with communities in platforms such as village health and nutrition days by health workers for community participations awareness, reported morungexpress.

“To make them successful, these efforts need to be supported by other government departments as well as civil society organizations, faith based organizations and volunteers,” he said.

Stating that the church has an enduring impact on the life of people, the Minister appealed to the leaders of the churches to help health workers towards creating awareness and promote good healthy practices. Further, he appealed to the media and other civil society organizations to help create awareness about health issues, health programmes and health care delivery systems in the state.

Dr Tushar Rane, Chief of field office, UNICEF Assam, meanwhile stressed on the need to improve the infant mortality rate which is at 29% in the state. He said institutional delivery which is about 32%, is a matter of great concern and in this regard, he pointed out that ante natal check-up should be given priority and maternal health should be given utmost importance.

He also said that Nagaland has the lowest rate of immunization in the country (33.6% as per RSOC, 2013-14), and that only 1 out of 3 children are immunized, which needs to be addressed.

Dr. Rane mentioned that just as polio and small pox have been eradicated in the country, Institutional Delivery and Immunization can also be checked by following such examples.

NBCC General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho stated that “healing the bodies and saving souls” has been the slogan of the earlier missionaries. The church, he stated, plays an important role not only in matters of faith but also in the social health of its members. “When Jesus sent his disciples to their field of ministry, they were commanded to preach and heal the sick,” he said and added that the church cannot limit its ministry to faith healing alone.

“In the techno-advanced medical world we must be well informed and depend on medical advances to bring healing to our sicknesses. We must also educate our people to seek help from the medical science for healing and prevention of diseases,” he said.

He announced that the NBCC is willing to participate in maternal and child immunization programs initiated by the Health and Family Welfare Department and UNICEF.

Fr. Charles from the Catholic Association, Nagaland stated that the social mission of the Catholic church is to enhance knowledge, skills and attitudes of people in the village in regard to accessing health care services, improving sanitation and hygiene, ensuring maternal and child health, as well as building capacity in natural and herbal medicine practices. He looked forward to partnering with the government, NGOs and individuals on this.

Since church organizations have an established network that reaches the community level, and considering that 90 percent of people in the state follow Christianity, he hoped that the partnership of churches would facilitate an easier reach to communities with information on child and maternal health.

The workshop is being conducted with the aim to create awareness through church by initiating community dialogue around maternal and child health; to instill local ownership to ensure that every child is vaccinated and that every mother is attended to.

The workshop will go on till May 31.