The Uttar government is running various campaigns to protect newborns and young children from life-threatening diseases.
The impact of these campaigns is reflected in the decline in neonatal mortality over the past eight years.
Regular immunisation has played a key role in protecting newborns and young children from deadly diseases.
The double-engine government is making special efforts to reach vaccination services to all children, with particular focus on identifying “zero-dose” children (those who have received no doses) and exposing them to vaccination services.
Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, said here on Sunday that in accordance with the intent of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, steps are being taken to provide affordable and quality healthcare to the people of the state. The continuous decline in the number of zero-dose children reflects the efforts of the state health system, partner organisations, and the community.
“Our goal is to ensure that no child is deprived of vaccination. From remote villages to urban settlements, vaccination services are being expanded to reach every family. We are assuring communities that vaccines are the most powerful tool to secure a child’s life and future. The government will work with even greater speed so that Uttar Pradesh becomes completely free of zero-dose cases and every child can live a healthy and safe life,” he remarked.
State Immunisation Officer Dr Ajay Gupta said that the ‘zero-dose campaign’ has been actively running since 2022 in 143 districts across 11 states of India. Uttar Pradesh is a leading state in this initiative, with the campaign running vigorously in 60 districts. These specific districts were carefully selected based on the data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), providing valuable insights into areas with the highest number of zero-dose children.
According to Dr Salman, Senior Paediatrician, children without vaccines are at higher risk of life-threatening diseases, which can also affect their development. They face increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, and polio. These diseases not only pose a direct threat to children’s health and well-being but can also hinder broader disease eradication efforts and cause long-term disabilities. For instance, the polio virus can lead to a debilitating disease, poliomyelitis, causing permanent paralysis and lifelong dependency on supportive care.