Mission Indradhanush was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India on December 25, 2014.

Objective

1. Aims to cover all those children by 2020 who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against 7 vaccine preventable diseases
2. The diseases are – diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B

How is the government going about the implementation?

1. Implementation will be done in phases in a “catch up” mode – the aim is to cover all the children who have been left out or missed out for immunization
2. Technically supported by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and other donor partners
3. Phase 1 targets 201 districts | Phase 2 targets 352 districts
4. The first round of the first phase started from 7 April 2015-World Health Day
5. What’s interesting about the Phase 1 districts? These 201 high focus districts in the country have nearly 50% of all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children!
6. Out of the 201 districts, 82 districts are in just four states of UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

What are the 4 pillars of strategy for Mission Indradhanush?

#1. Meticulous planning of campaigns/sessions at all levels

• Within the districts, the Mission will focus on the 400,000 high risk settlements identified by the polio eradication programme
• 400,000 high risk settlements include urban slums, construction sites, brick kilns, nomadic sites and hard-to-reach areas
• Such a planning needs a timely revision of micro plans in all blocks and urban areas in each district to ensure availability of sufficient vaccinators & vaccines

#2. Effective communication and social mobilization efforts

• Generate awareness and demand for immunization services through need-based communication strategies and social mobilization activities
• Use of mass media, mid media, interpersonal communication (IPC), school and youth networks and corporates

#3. Intensive training of the health officials and frontline workers

• Capacity building has been the core of any social sector scheme and this just reinforces the point #1

#4. Establish accountability framework through task forces

• Strengthening the district task forces for immunization in all districts
• Ensuring the use of concurrent session monitoring data to plug the gaps in implementation on a real time basis
• Collaboration with other Ministries, ongoing programmes and international partners to promote a coordinated and synergistic approach

For current updates, follow our story on – Mission Indradhanush – 100% health immunization coverage by 2020