Ten-years-old boy brought his one and half year-old sister to an outreach session being held in his village for immunizing children against measles.
Pradum resides in Ahmedpur village of Peoplekhera block in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, heart of India. He was also vaccinated in his school few days back. Now, he is here to get the same for his sister, Ananya. Parents of Pradum and Ananya are busy in their farm field as it is harvesting time.
Madhya Pradesh is having its sixth round of measles supplementary immunization, which is underway in sixteen districts and is reaching out to 40 lakh children in age group of 9 months to ten years. The rounds are being conducted by Department of Health & Family welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh as per guidelines of Government of India.
Measles SIA started in Madhya Pradesh in year 2010 and till now 34 districts have been covered and 90 lakh children have been vaccinated by the Department of Health & family welfare with technical support from WHO and UNICEF.
Chief of UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh Tania Goldner says that ' Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that kills more children than any other vaccine preventable disease. Diarrhea, pneumonia and ear infection are common complications following measles infection. Immunization is an important and cost-effective intervention for preventing sufferings, complications and deaths caused by measles.