[Assam] NRHM braving all odds in Dhemaji (The Sentinel,25.12.07)

[Buljit Buragohain]

NRHM braving all odds in Dhemaji 
>From our Correspondent
DHEMAJI, Dec 24: The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) programme in Dhemaji is receiving accolades for its service in the area. The health workers of the immunization programme have chalked out an extensive plan to create health awareness programmes and take it to the remotest corners of the district. 
But NRHM is facing some problems in certain villages where people are still rooted in old beliefs and consider the pulse polio immunisation programme to be a taboo. The villagers say that by immunization their children will become impotent and will have an adverse effect on their wards.
In this regard, NRHM unit of the district feels that by promoting the immunization programme through street drama, workshop and other cultural devices, the villagers could be persuaded to throw away their superstitions. 
To make the hominization drive a success in the villages, NHRM believe that by promoting a festive mood in the area, people could be encouraged to take part in the programme.
The immunization programme which started in on September 24 as by and large been a success, according to NHRM officials. The main objective of the programme is to immunize all the children of 1 year of age against diseases like diptheria, tetanus, measles and tuberculosis. It was learnt that in spite of having lot of constrains, the health workers left no stone unturned to make the programme a grand success.
Another important and aspect of the NRHM drive is that they have surveyed almost all villages of the district to find out dropout cases. These cases will be covered in the next round of immunization. 
DN Mishra, Deputy Commissioner, Dhemaji, is taking a keen interest in the programme and holds frequent meeting with health officials to take stock of the progress being made in the programme.
Speaking to The Sentinel, Mandira Chayengia, media officer of NRHM, Dhemaji district, said that due to communication and transportation problems, the char and chapori areas could not be could not be covered by routine immunization programme. 
But she said that the organization is optimistic that with the help of ‘Shahnaz’ boat and with the help of various related NGOs the remote areas would also be covered.
Under the Janani Suraksha programme launched by the Central Government, all pregnant women should be admitted in the hospital for delivery. NHRM through a survey found that the mortality rate of the newborn babies is quite alarming in Dhemaji. This is due to unhygienic and unscientific way of delivery and lack of postnatal care, the survey found out. 
It is well known that Dhemaji is one of the most backward district of the State. Although in recent times a slew of measures to improve the health care sector of the district have taken but still the district is yet to have a 100 bed hospital and the lack of doctors is a cause of major concern. State Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma who visited the district recently took stock of the healthcare situation and assured the people that he would take steps to improve conditions.
   
  (The Sentinel,25.12.07)



       
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