Tripura has achieved 99 per cent target in Mukhyamantri Sustho Shoishob Sustho Kaishore Abhiyan (MSSSKA), a special drive to implement four programmes including de-worming and diarrhoea control, carried out across the state.
According to an official report, around 12.80 lakh children and adolescents (0-19 years) were targeted under the MSSSKA-- total of 8,73,920 houses was targeted and 99.79% of the houses were visited by the Frontline Workers during the special drive.
"Under De-worming programme, as many as 9, 26,786 among 9, 33,023 targeted children and adolescents (1-19 years) were covered with 99.33 per cent achievement," said State Immunization Officer Dr. Mousumi Sarkar.
The achievement for Integrated Diarrhea Control Programme was also 99.90 per cent-- total of 2,94,487 among the targeted 2,94,768 children in the age group of 0-5 years were covered, Dr. Sarkar said.Image: Teams engaged in MSSSKA visited door-to-door to reach out children
The MSSSKA was implemented through a community-based approach where ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers undertook door-to-door visits to reach all children and adolescents in the age group of 0 to 19 years-- they administered and distributed the medicines, supplements and ORS in their catchment areas.
With continued closure of schools and Anganwadi centres following Covid pandemic, the State Coordination Committee Meeting held on July 26 last had decided to jointly implement the four programmes- National De-worming Day, Vitamin-A supplementation, Iron Folic Acid Supplementation and Integrated Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) under the banner of MSSSKA. The meeting was convened by NHM Tripura Mission Director Dr. Siddhartha Shiv Jaiswal.
The achievement for Integrated Diarrhea Control Programme was also 99.90 per cent-- total of 2,94,487 among the targeted 2,94,768 children in the age group of 0-5 years were covered, Dr. Sarkar said.
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had inaugurated the special drive in Agartala on August 31 last.
Deworming tablets (Albendazole 400 mg) and Vitamin-A supplementation were administered at the household-level by Front Line Workers in the presence of the parent/ guardian/ caregiver while ORS, Zinc tablet (IDCF programme), and IFA syrup/ pink/ blue tablets (IFA supplementation) were distributed to the target population to consume as per requirement and administration protocol.
The State Immunization Officer in a press note said, as health systems across the world calibrated to the evolving COVID-19 situation over the past one and half years, the Tripura Government continued to roll out public health programs with modified strategies.
"While a few government-run health programs were implemented through a school/ anganwadi-based platform in pre-COVID situations, continued closure of these institutions have necessitated a shift towards community-based door-to-door programs," Dr. Sarkar said.Image: An ASHA worker and an Anganwadi worker walking through rivulet to reach remote hamlet to carry out MSSSKA.
Meanwhile, in some cases, the Asha and Anganwadi workers engaged in MSSSKA had to cross rivulets and walk through hilly jungle roads to reach out the children in remote hamlets.
Tripura Chief Secretary Kumar Alok, in a recent tweet, appreciated the efforts made by Healthcare teams in Tripura to reach out to more than 99 percent households during MSSSKA Campaign.
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