The government of Andhra Pradesh has launched Mission Indradhanush to completely immunize all children below the age of 2 years in the state. Mission Indradhanush is a Central government sponsored programme which was launched in March in North India initially.

Taking forward the Central government’s healthcare initiative, the state government in Andhra Pradesh has launched the programme in a big way. As part of this Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Minister for HRD launched Indradhanush scheme at Agnampudi Primary Health Care Center.

As part of the mission, the district administration is creating awareness in a big way and providing immunisation to all children aged below two years, who have missed vaccination or have been partially vaccinated.

While launching the programme Srinivasa Rao said that the programme is a novel initiative by the central government and it is aimed at eradicating seven childhood diseases.

To cover the entire district, the health department of the state launched the mission simultaneously in 5 major districts of the state which include Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Kurnool districts in the first phase.

As part of this programme, the minister requested the parents to immunise children in time to ensure their health and added that every child should be delivered only in a hospital. The minister assured to provide better amenities in all government hospitals in the district and also fill the vacant posts of doctors.

To create more awareness about the Indradhanush scheme, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) in association with Steel Walkers’ Club organized a ‘Walk for Health’ at Trishna Grounds in Ukkunagaram Township.

Meanwhile health education department at NRI hospital also opened a health education and preventive healthcare department on its premises. Ch Vijayalakshmi, chairman of NRI hospital this department is aimed at creating awareness among the public about diseases like cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, pains, etc.