Arunachal bags ‘SKOCH Order of Merit’ Award

Our Correspondent

Itanagar, June 22: Arunachal Pradesh bagged the prestigious ‘SKOCH Order-of Merit’ Award for the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign and Chief Minister’s Free Cancer Chemotherapy Scheme being implemented in the state.

The award was conferred to the state at the 52nd SKOCH Summit held at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi on Thursday, an official release informed here today.

The award conferred by Skoch Group in recognition of the services provided to the people was received by Special Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Dr Tapasya Raghav, Nodal Officer for National Health Mission Dr Dimong Padung and State nodal officer for Cancer Control Programme Dr S Tsering on behalf of the Health department.

Skoch Group is a think-tank dealing with socio-economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth since 1997. It is also known for instituting India’s highest independent civilian honors in the field of governance, finance, technology, economics and social sector.

Dr Raghav, who has been proactive in ensuring full coverage under the MR vaccination campaign, had initiated adoption of all round measures against any dropouts both in children and pregnant women.

Mission mode oriented in approach, the MRV team under Dr Raghav charted a list of preparatory activities wherein the campaign was staged at state, district and block levels.

Considering the vastness of the state bordering Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Assam/Nagaland with limited network of surface communication, the challenge of reaching the all corners of the state was a factor for being conferred the award. In view of the MRV campaign which required logistics for storage with right temperature and timely transportation that reached far flung areas like Taksing in Upper Subansiri, Hawai in Anjaw, Vijoynagar in Changlang district, the state team was listed top among other states in the country.

The state was figured for setting a record of vaccinating 443054 beneficiaries out of 438386 targetted beneficiaries achieving 101.06 per cent vaccination coverage under MRV campaign held during February-March this year.

According to WHO monitoring, of the 13381 children from 9 months to 15 years, 96 per cent of these children were found vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the state also bagged award for Chief Minister’s Free Cancer Chemotherapy Scheme. Under the scheme, the State Cancer Society of Arunachal Pradesh is in agreement with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai for procurement of chemotherapy medicines at high concessional rates.