Kohima: Health officials and local leaders gathered at the Chief Medical Officer's office in Mokokchung on October 16 to tackle gaps in childhood vaccination. The TATTVA Foundation and UNICEF organized the convergence meeting to coordinate a stronger response to routine immunization requirements. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Takosunep Ao opened the session by calling for stakeholders to accept their collective duty to shield children from preventable disease.
Dr. Limanaro, the District Program Officer for UIP and RCH, broke down the mechanics of routine immunization. She explained how the shots work and addressed common concerns regarding minor side effects. "She noted that vaccine hesitancy stems largely from lack of awareness and ignorance, and urged members to take ownership in educating communities." Limanaro pushed the room to view immunization as a shared burden, rather than a task reserved for the medical department alone.
Wapang Imsong from the TATTVA Foundation laid out the current vaccination data for the GAVI intervention block. He pointed to specific reasons why some children remain unvaccinated within the community. The meeting forced a shift in strategy by bringing together the Education Department, NSRLM, ICDS, the Mokokchung Municipal Council, local churches, and civil society groups. These organizations discussed integrating vaccine advocacy into their daily operations. Staff from the CMO office and the District Program Management Unit joined community representatives to finalize the new approach.
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