Pics: Meryick D' Silva
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru(DV)

Mangaluru, Apr 6: "For the first time in the state, the department of health and family welfare is organizing 'Indradhanush' the universal immunization programme for pregnant women and children below two years. Chief minister Siddaramaiah will launch this campaign on April 7, at Banquet Hall in Vidhana Saudha,” informed health minister U T Khadar.

"Immunization will be done for pregnant women and for children below two years. People are affected by various types of transmitted disease and have ill health because of lack of immunity in their body. In future, there should not be any problem of immunity," he said.

He further said, "Though the state has 85% immunization rate, high focal districts like Kalburgi, Ballari, Yadgiri, Kopal, Raichur are yet to achieve a high level of immunization. Along with these districts, Bengaluru Urban which has highest number of migrants from all over India, has been chosen for the first phase of immunization programme."

He also said that on the 7th of every month from April to July, there will be a programme of one week on immunization. 

With the help of anganwady workers, Asha activists and local bodies, immunization will be done from door to door. Immunization units will be set up at the anganwady centres and they will have provisions of mobile vans.

Responding to union minister Ananth Kumar's statements that generic medicine scheme by the union government was not utilized by the state government, Khadar said, “CM Siddaramaiah announced this health scheme before Ananth Kumar became the union minister. We have started this programme in the state. Let him work on the pharmaceutical companies. We will do the generic medicines. Let them bring programmess on pharmaceuticals. In union budget, there is no programme which supports the pharmaceuticals."

He also questioned why the union government's schemes of generic medicines in other states had failed. “What action have they taken to correct it? The state government has its own plan which should be a role model for the entire country."

“State government's generic medicines will be available 24X7. Agreement has been signed with HLL which is also the part of the union government. This centre will be also useful to people who go to private hospitals. The centre will be situated outside the hospital. The centre will provide 1,200 generic medicines. This will be started in all districts and taluks," he added.

He further informed that he has written to the PM and the union health minister seeking clarification on the statements made by two MPs who had said earlier that tobacco was not the direct cause for cancer. "On what basis have these MPs given such statements?," he questioned.