LALITPUR: A total of 156,762 children in Lalitpur district are targeted to receive the measles-rubella vaccine as part of the nationwide Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign that commenced on Sunday.

According to Parthamani Neupane, Immunization Officer at the District Health Office in Lalitpur, children in six local government units of the district will initially be administered vaccines against highly contagious and airborne diseases at 622 vaccination centers.

The campaign will be officially launched in Konjyosom and Mahakal rural municipalities in the district starting February 27, as shared by Neupane.

He informed that 159 health workers and 822 volunteers will be mobilized to ensure the success of the campaign.

The initiative is set to cover all 29 wards of the Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) by March 6.

Meanwhile, the Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) has a total of 92,300 children slated to receive the measles-rubella vaccine.

Sarita Maharjan, Chief of the Public Health Section at LMC, shared that 212 vaccine centers have been established within the metropolis to vaccinate children aged 9 months to 15 years.

The government of Nepal initially aimed to eliminate measles-rubella cases by 2023 but, failing to meet the target within the primary deadline, has extended the timeline to 2026, as confirmed by Immunization Officer Neupane.