Agartala, April 20, 2026: Tripura’s Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Saju Vaheed A on Sunday visited Unakoti district to assess the prevailing measles and rubella situation, with a focus on vaccination coverage and containment measures.

Arriving from Agartala in the morning, the NHM Director held a high-level review meeting at the Circuit House in Kailashahar with key district officials. Among those present were District Magistrate Dr. Tamal Majumdar, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shirshendu Chakma, District Surveillance Officer Dr. Amit Debbarma, District Immunization Officer Dr. Sandipan Bhattacharjee, and Medical Superintendent Dr. Rohan Pal.

The meeting focused on evaluating infection trends, immunization progress, and the effectiveness of ongoing containment strategies. The director reviewed data on vaccination coverage and stressed the need for close monitoring of vulnerable areas.

As part of the field visit, Saju Vaheed A inspected the Irani Primary Health Centre under Gournagar block, where he interacted with healthcare personnel, including in-charge medical officer Dr. Pritam Das. He sought feedback on operational challenges and discussed concerns related to vaccine hesitancy among sections of the population.

He later visited Unakoti District Hospital at Bhagaban Nagar, examining the isolation ward and overall healthcare infrastructure. He directed hospital authorities to strictly follow standard treatment protocols and ensure uninterrupted patient care.

Speaking to reporters, the NHM Director said the overall situation remains stable and under control but cautioned that the district’s proximity to Bangladesh necessitates continued vigilance.

He noted that some children are yet to receive vaccinations and announced that a special immunization drive will be conducted within a week to cover children aged 9 to 16 months under the measles-rubella (MR) programme.

Appealing to the public, he advised people not to panic but to remain alert. He urged residents to immediately seek medical attention if symptoms such as fever accompanied by red skin rashes appear.

The district administration reiterated its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and achieving elimination of measles and rubella, expressing confidence that the director’s visit will boost ongoing immunization efforts.