Mission Indradhanush

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launching the Mission Intensified Indradhanush, at Vadnagar, in Gujarat

Mission Indradhanush is a health initiative launched by the Government of India in December 2014. The primary goal of this mission is to strengthen immunization coverage across India and to reach the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women in the remotest corners of the country. The initiative underscores the importance of vaccination in preventing child mortality and morbidity due to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Background

In India, the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) has been in place since 1985, aiming to provide free vaccines against key preventable diseases. Despite the program's extensive reach, a significant proportion of children and pregnant women missed out on these critical vaccinations due to various challenges, including geographical barriers, vaccine hesitancy, and operational inefficiencies. Mission Indradhanush was conceived to address these gaps and accelerate the coverage of immunization.

Objectives

The objectives of Mission Indradhanush include:

• Increasing the immunization coverage to at least 90% of the country's children and pregnant women.
• Ensuring the immunization against seven vaccine-preventable diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B.
• Later expansions of the mission also included vaccines against Japanese encephalitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and rotavirus.

Phases

Mission Indradhanush has been implemented in several phases, each targeting different geographical areas and populations. The initial phases focused on districts with the lowest immunization coverage, gradually expanding to cover more areas. Special drives and Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) campaigns have been launched to further boost the reach and effectiveness of the mission.

Impact

The mission has made significant strides in increasing the immunization coverage across India. It has been instrumental in identifying and vaccinating children and pregnant women who were left out of the UIP. The increased coverage has contributed to the reduction in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases and has been a step forward in achieving the goal of universal immunization.

Challenges

Despite its successes, Mission Indradhanush faces several challenges, including:

• Vaccine hesitancy among certain sections of the population.
• Operational challenges in reaching remote and inaccessible areas.
• Maintaining the cold chain and ensuring the quality of vaccines.

Future Directions

The Government of India continues to build on the successes of Mission Indradhanush with newer initiatives and strategies to ensure that no child or pregnant woman is left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases. The mission is a critical component of India's public health strategy, aiming for a disease-free future for its children.