When India is committed to achieve 90 per cent full immunisation coverage by the year 2020, reaching to the hard-to-reach areas through community radio will help in achieving the goal.
Speaking on the ‘National Media Consultation on Routine Immunisation (RI)’ in New Delhi recently, Unicef health specialist Dr Satish Gupta said, “Rotavirus vaccine is going to be introduced in four States such as Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh in first phase of 2016, as a part of Mission Indradhanush. He explained, diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of death amongst children under 5 years of age. Annually rotavirus diarrhoea deaths are between 122,000-153,000.”
Nearly 40 per cent children hospitalised for diarrhoea are infected with rotavirus. Rotavirus is highly contagious and resilient. Every child is at risk of infection, regardless of location, hygiene
practices, or access to safe drinking water or sanitation. This silent tragedy can be prevented by immunisation.
Apart from Rotavirus other newer vaccines like Pentavalent vaccine (DPT+HepB+HiB), Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), Measles Rubella Vaccine, Japanese Encephalities (JE) are soon going to be launched and India is committed to achieve 90 per cent full immunisation coverage by 2020. Even though there are a lot of programmes going on, still some children are missed out from immunisation.
According to the WHO monitoring data, between January and December 2014, while 65 per cent children were fully immunised, 28 per cent received partial immunisation and 7 per cent were not immunised. These children are mostly missed out because of awareness and information gap, operational gap, travelling, AEFI apprehension and others.
In 2014, the Government of India launched Mission Indradhanush, a flagship programme to strengthen immunization coverage in India. The programme aims to provide 100 per cent vaccination against life-threatening diseases to more than 90 per cent of newborns by 2020. One of the challenges for complete immunization arises at the point of last-mile connectivity and this is where the role of radio becomes crucial.
Universal Immunization Programme Deputy Commissioner Dr M K Aggarwal said, “Radio journalists can convey critical messages on health through the creative route of news, music and entertainment. The support of radio, especially community radio, will help to create awareness in high priority districts to reach out the goal and need of full immunisation”.
In the media consultation, a group of 40 radio and print journalists across India came together to brainstorm on ways to reach the last mile by leveraging the role of radio and its reach to the remotest parts of the country.
The Government of India recognises immunisation as one of the most cost effective interventions to prevent child deaths. India’s Universal Programme is one of the largest public health interventions in the country with an extensive vaccine delivery system with 27,000 vaccine storage units in 35 States across the country. 80 per cent of vaccination takes place in the outreach sessions, held in thousands each year in more than 6 lakh villages and other urban belts.
An audio visual presentation about an auto driver Purnachandra of Chandanpur in Puri district, who helps in providing support in immunisation programme was highly appreciated.