Articles in Media on Measles Campaign - Unicef

<strong>Media</strong> Consultation
Workshop
<strong>Media</strong> Coverage Report
1

Coverage Publication Edition Headl<strong>in</strong>e Date
Ranchi Workshop
1 The Pioneer Ranchi Measles poses serious threat to children 30 th Jan, 2011
2 The Tribune New Delhi Fight aga<strong>in</strong>st measles enters critical phase 31 st Jan,2011
3 The Times Of India New Delhi Focus on measles immunization <strong>in</strong> Lohardaga, Jharkhand 31 st Jan,2011
4 AmarUjala New Delhi Second round of vacc<strong>in</strong>ation for measles 1 st Feb,2011
5 RajasthanPatrika New Delhi Second dose will control measles 1 st Feb,2011
6 H<strong>in</strong>dustan Times Ranchi Second shot at fight<strong>in</strong>g measles 1 st Feb,2011
7 Sanmarg Ranchi Measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drive starts from tomorrow 30 th Jan,2011
8 Ranchi Express Ranchi Second dose of measles drive <strong>in</strong> 5 districts from tomorrow 30 th Jan,2011
9 H<strong>in</strong>dustan Ranchi Second dose of measles drive <strong>in</strong> 5 districts from tomorrow 30 th Jan,2011
10 Prabhat Khabar Ranchi 8.5 Lakhs children will take vacc<strong>in</strong>e for measles 30 th Jan,2011
11 Da<strong>in</strong>ik Bhaskar Ranchi Vacc<strong>in</strong>ation aga<strong>in</strong>st measles 30 th Jan, 2011
12 I- Next Ranchi Eradicate measles and save the children 30 th Jan,2011
13 Da<strong>in</strong>ik Jagran Ranchi Fight aga<strong>in</strong>st measles starts from tomorrow 30 th Jan,2011
Bhopal Workshop
14 The Pioneer Bhopal Regional workshop for media persons held 20 th Nov,2010
15 The Pioneer Bhopal Campaign on adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g measles drop may delay aga<strong>in</strong> 20 th Nov,2010
16 PTI Bhopal Govt launch<strong>in</strong>g second dose measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong> 14 states 20 th Nov,2010
17 The Pioneer Bhopal Measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation campaign <strong>in</strong> full sw<strong>in</strong>g 11 th Dec, 2010
18 The Pioneer Bhopal 35 percent measles <strong>in</strong>noculation <strong>in</strong> first week of pilot project 16 th Dec,2010
19 The Pioneer Bhopal Last date for measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation extended till December 30 26 th Dec,2010
20 Nai Duniya Bhopal 12,000 children die of measles every year <strong>in</strong> the city
21 H<strong>in</strong>dustan Times Bhopal Regional media workshop on measles
22 Deshbandhu Bhopal 12,000 children die of measles every year <strong>in</strong> state
Assam Coverage
23 Assam Tribune Assam <strong>Media</strong> urged to dispel doubts about measles 4 th Nov, 2010
24 Telegraph Kolkata Measles drive <strong>in</strong> Morigaon 3 rd Nov ,2010
25 Sent<strong>in</strong>el Guwahati <strong>Media</strong> workshop on measles immunization drive held 3 rd Nov ,2010
26 www.igovernment.<strong>in</strong> Special measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drive <strong>in</strong> Assam 16 th Nov , 2010
2

Edition: Ranchi
Date- 30 th Jan 2011
Measles poses serious threat to children
A workshop was organised discuss<strong>in</strong>g the threat of measles to children, especially malnourished and steps for the
implementation of eradicat<strong>in</strong>g it completely. The programme was organised jo<strong>in</strong>tly under the aegis of Health and
Family Welfare Department of Government of Jharkhand, WHO and UNICEF <strong>in</strong> the city at Capitol Hill on
Saturday.
The five districts which are selected for the immunisation process are — Deoghar, Gumla, Jamtara, Khunti and
Lohardaga. Around 8.2 lakhs population of children have been selected under this pilot project, which will be
covered under this immunisation process.
Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, AK Sarkar address<strong>in</strong>g the people said, ―We are runn<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d the
immunisation level as compared to other countries but many States are com<strong>in</strong>g at par with them. Measles and
mortality rates of children are serious concerns of the State Government and we are plann<strong>in</strong>g to take concrete steps
<strong>in</strong> this regard. We plan to first jo<strong>in</strong> the local levels of adm<strong>in</strong>istration and then <strong>in</strong>volve the local sahiyas for
implementation of the health services.‖
Mission Director of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Aradhana Patnaik emphasised on the works of the
health mission and said, ―Measles is a severe disease claim<strong>in</strong>g several lives. To prevent high mortality rates of
children from this disease, an immunisation workshop will beg<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> five noted districts of the State. For these five
districts, we have received around n<strong>in</strong>e lakh measles vacc<strong>in</strong>es.‖
She also appealed the media for its positive approaches and help <strong>in</strong> dislocat<strong>in</strong>g all myths regard<strong>in</strong>g this disease <strong>in</strong>
the society.
―All the districts, where the immunisation is <strong>in</strong> the off<strong>in</strong>g have been provided with vacc<strong>in</strong>e storages <strong>in</strong> the form of
big deep freezers, so that the cold cha<strong>in</strong> doesn’t breaks. A mobile team is also formed for ensur<strong>in</strong>g proper use of
the vacc<strong>in</strong>e and awareness among people,‖ concluded Patnaik.
The workshop was also attended by officers from the State Government, NGOs and several mediapersons from the
State and New Delhi to discuss the threat of the disease.
3

Edition: New Delhi
Date- 31st Jan 2011
Journalist: Aditi Tandon
Fight aga<strong>in</strong>st measles enters critical phase
India is ready to enter the most critical phase of its fight aga<strong>in</strong>st measles, the respiratory disease whose prevalence
is erod<strong>in</strong>g the country’s hard-earned child health ga<strong>in</strong>s and push<strong>in</strong>g back the reduction of the <strong>in</strong>fant mortality rate
which is the fourth Millennium Development Goal. Three out of every four children <strong>in</strong> the world who died of
measles last year were from India. Our reported annual mortality from measles ranges from 50,000 to one lakh.
Tomorrow onwards through the entire months February and March, the government will be closely watch<strong>in</strong>g the
culm<strong>in</strong>ation of its ambitious Measles catch-up campaign which began <strong>in</strong> November last year to adm<strong>in</strong>ister a second
dose of the Measles Conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Vacc<strong>in</strong>e (MCV) to children left uncovered by the first dose adm<strong>in</strong>istered dur<strong>in</strong>g
rout<strong>in</strong>e immunisation at 9 to 12 months of age.
The pilot campaign seeks to cover 13.4 crore children aged n<strong>in</strong>e months to 10 years <strong>in</strong> the 14 most high-risk states
(where the first MCV dose coverage is under 80 per cent) and will enter its last leg tomorrow as the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g
among the vulnerable states cover their respective target populations over the next two months. Jharkhand will take
the lead here by roll<strong>in</strong>g out the MCV second dose from tomorrow.
Through the month, it hopes to immunise eight lakh children <strong>in</strong> the five districts chosen for the pilot project. Close
to 40,000 anganwari workers from the state have been roped <strong>in</strong> for the mammoth exercise dur<strong>in</strong>g which Jharkhand
expects 100 per cent coverage, Maoist <strong>in</strong>festation notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g.―Dur<strong>in</strong>g the first week of the campaign, we will
cover school children after which we will have outreach camps and door-to-door coverage. Technical support is
be<strong>in</strong>g offered by UNICEF,‖ Aradhna Patnaik, Director, National Rural Health Mission, Jharkhand, today told The
Tribune correspondent <strong>in</strong> Ranchi.Tripura will accompany Jharkhand <strong>in</strong> the campaign launch tomorrow while
Nagaland, Gujarat and Meghalaya will roll it out from February 7, February 23 and March 20, respectively. The
high-risk states that have already wound up their measles catch-up <strong>in</strong>clude Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana
(five districts), Rajasthan, Manipur, Bihar, Chhattisgarh (n<strong>in</strong>e districts) and Madhya Pradesh. From April, the
project is expected to be scaled up. India contributes 75 per cent to the measles burden of Southeast Asia, the only
WHO region which has failed to reduce measles deaths under the 2005 World Health Assembly pledge of reduc<strong>in</strong>g
global measles mortality by 90 per cent until 2010.It was then that the Assembly recommended a second dose of
MCV for improved global measles immunisation. India went slow, act<strong>in</strong>g only <strong>in</strong> November last year, and <strong>in</strong> the
process squander<strong>in</strong>g global ga<strong>in</strong>s. ―Southeast Asia reduced measles deaths by just 46 per cent while the world
reduced the same by 90 per cent. It saw 1, 64, 000 measles deaths last year-over 75 per cent of these were <strong>in</strong> India.
Measles second dose is critical for improved population immunity because the first dose adm<strong>in</strong>istered at 9 months
is just 85 per cent effective. The second given beyond 12 months is 95 per cent effective,‖ Dr Debashish Roy,
WHO specialist for SE Asia told The Tribune, reiterat<strong>in</strong>g vacc<strong>in</strong>e safety.
4

Edition :New Delhi
Date- 31st Jan 2011
Focus on measles immunization <strong>in</strong> Lohardaga, Jharkhand
LOHARDAGA: "Like several other countries, the government of India has decided to immunize children from
n<strong>in</strong>e month to 10 years of age with the second dose of immunization aga<strong>in</strong>st measles," saidDr Routrey, national
coord<strong>in</strong>ator of WHO for a special drive <strong>in</strong> 17 states of the country.
These are the states with results below 80% <strong>in</strong> rout<strong>in</strong>e immunization programmes. He was address<strong>in</strong>g at a districtlevel
launch<strong>in</strong>g function of the special three-week immunization programme at Palmerganj Middle School.
The immunization programme is be<strong>in</strong>g executed by the health department <strong>in</strong> association with the education and
social welfare departments. WHO and Unicef are technical supporters to the programme.
Routrey said Jharkhand is the n<strong>in</strong>th state where the programme began on Monday. As a part of first phase <strong>in</strong> the
state, five districts Lohardaga, Gumla, Khunti, Jamtara and Deoghar have been taken up.
Shailendra Kumar S<strong>in</strong>gh from WHO said all these five districts have been selected as pilot projects. Two of these
districts, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Lohardaga, were selected on basis of their better performances <strong>in</strong> rout<strong>in</strong>e immunizations while
two were selected due to their lower performances and one district is average performer.
"Lohardaga has been top two <strong>in</strong> the state <strong>in</strong> rout<strong>in</strong>e immunization. In the first week, schoolchildren are to be
immunized and dur<strong>in</strong>g the last two weeks, children connected to the rout<strong>in</strong>e immunization centres and its
peripheries will be immunized," he said.
Inaugurat<strong>in</strong>g the function, deputy commissioner Ratan Kumar asked the department authorities concerned to ensure
cent percent target. He asked chief medical officer Dr J P S<strong>in</strong>ha to monitor the drive everyday s<strong>in</strong>ce it is only for
three weeks.
Urg<strong>in</strong>g teachers to extend their full support to the drive, he said measles is taken lightly but it weakens a child,
which leads him or her to several diseases, caus<strong>in</strong>g death.
Dr S<strong>in</strong>ha said 97,146 children <strong>in</strong> 488 primary and middle schools are to be immunized <strong>in</strong> the first week.
Source: http://timesof<strong>in</strong>dia.<strong>in</strong>diatimes.com/city/ranchi/Focus-on-measles-immunization-<strong>in</strong>-Lohardaga/articleshow/7399884.cms
6

Edition : New Delhi
Date- 1 st Feb 2011
Second round of vacc<strong>in</strong>ation for measles
7

Edition: New Delhi
Date- 1 st Feb 2011
Second dose will control measles
8

Edition : Ranchi
Date- 1 st Feb 201
Second Shot at fight<strong>in</strong>g measles
9

Edition: Ranchi
Date: 30.1.11
Measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drive starts from tomorrow
9months – 10 years children under purview
10

Edition : Ranchi
Date : 30.1.11
Measles drive <strong>in</strong> 5 districts from tomorrow
11

Edition : Ranchi
Date : 30.1.11
Second dose of measles drive <strong>in</strong> 5 districts from tomorrow
12

Edition : Ranchi
Date : 30.1.11
8.5 Lakhs children will take vacc<strong>in</strong>e for measles
13

Edition: Ranchi
Date : 30.1.11
Vacc<strong>in</strong>ation aga<strong>in</strong>st measles
14

I- Next
Edition : Ranchi
Date : 30.1.11
Eradicate measles and save the children
15

Edition : Ranchi
Date : 30.1.11
Fight aga<strong>in</strong>st measles starts from tomorrow.
16

Edition: Bhopal
Date: 20.11.10
Regional workshop for media persons held
A regional workshop for media persons from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Haryana was
organized under the jo<strong>in</strong>t aegis of Health and Family Welfare Department of Government of India, Government of
Madhya Pradesh, UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO), here on Friday.
Speak<strong>in</strong>g on the occasion, Secretary Health and Family Welfare Government of Madhya Pradesh SR Mohanty said
the second-leg of the pilot project, adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g a second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> five districts of the State,
would commence <strong>in</strong> the first week of December.
The pilot project to be implemented <strong>in</strong> the Jhabua, Barwani, Shivpuri, Tikamgarh and Alirajpur districts of Madhya
Pradesh.
He further said the measles booster shots would be adm<strong>in</strong>istered across the State dur<strong>in</strong>g next year. He also said that
media could help to build a conducive environment for the <strong>in</strong>itiative.
Chief of the UNICEF office for Madhya Pradesh Dr Tania Goldner said, ―Voice of media <strong>in</strong> favour of children can
make a huge difference. This immunisation campaign of giv<strong>in</strong>g a second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e to children would
be successful only if we are able to reach out to every child and to ensure the child receives the vacc<strong>in</strong>e and is
protected aga<strong>in</strong>st measles.‖
She added that the campaign needed support from the media, to not only convey the need for immunisation, but
also to motivate parents for the immunis<strong>in</strong>g their children aga<strong>in</strong>st the <strong>in</strong>fection.
Director National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Dr Manohar Agnani said the three week campaign, planned to
reach out to 15 lakh children <strong>in</strong> these districts, add<strong>in</strong>g that over 40,000 people would be <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the campaign.
Dr Satyabrata Routray of WHO, India, said measles was a major cause of childhood mortality. The risks are
especially high <strong>in</strong> malnourished <strong>in</strong>fants and young children, he added.
Routray said measles outbreak surveillance data revealed that around 90 per cent of the cases were <strong>in</strong>the age group
of less than 10 years.
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Edition: Bhopal
Date : 20.11.10
Campaign on adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g measles drop may delay aga<strong>in</strong>
The much delayed drive to adm<strong>in</strong>ister the second dose of the measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e is fac<strong>in</strong>g constant roadblocks and it
is highly likely that the campaign would miss its scheduled date aga<strong>in</strong>.
Notably, the second dose of the measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e was to be adm<strong>in</strong>istered <strong>in</strong> five districts of Madhya Pradesh under a
pilot campaign, launched by the Government of India.
The five districts <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the project are Shivpuri, Tikamgarh, Alirajpur, Jhabua and Badwani where the second
phase was scheduled to take place last September, but is still hang<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> balance.
An official request<strong>in</strong>g anonymity said constant corrections were be<strong>in</strong>g made to the micro plan, be<strong>in</strong>g prepared for
the implementation of the immunisation drive.
Speak<strong>in</strong>g of the cause beh<strong>in</strong>d the repeated delays, he said that there were too many schools <strong>in</strong> the area but too few
people to participate <strong>in</strong> the implementation of the drive, so draft<strong>in</strong>g an effective micro-plan was prov<strong>in</strong>g to be
tough.
He expla<strong>in</strong>ed the problem that if 400 schools were present <strong>in</strong> a district and only 30 vacc<strong>in</strong>ators were available then
it would be quite tough to complete the exercise <strong>in</strong> a week.
He further said that there were many schools <strong>in</strong> which the strength of students was very less comparatively, but
even they would take a similar effort <strong>in</strong> adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g the vacc<strong>in</strong>e.
Other problems like storage of vacc<strong>in</strong>es were also a big challenge for the district authorities.
Contradictorily, Jo<strong>in</strong>t Director of Immunization Programmes, Dr BN Chauhan, while talk<strong>in</strong>g to The Pioneer,
blamed the Central Government for delays <strong>in</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g logistic support for the drive.
He said that the programme was likely to be implemented by the end of November or first week of December.
Talk<strong>in</strong>g about the staff crunch, he said that such k<strong>in</strong>d of problems would be handled dur<strong>in</strong>g the time of
implementation and said that is why duration of adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g vacc<strong>in</strong>es has been <strong>in</strong>creased to two weeks.
Under the project, the Government aims to vacc<strong>in</strong>ate children between 9 months to 10 years of age, to help bolster
their immunity aga<strong>in</strong>st the deadly virus.
18

PTI
Edition : Bhopal
Date : 20.11.10
Govt launch<strong>in</strong>g second dose measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>in</strong> 14 states
Bhopal, Nov 19 (PTI) In an effort to prevent an estimated one lakh deaths of children annually, the Government is
launch<strong>in</strong>g the second dose measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation programme <strong>in</strong> 14 high-risk states.
"Although rout<strong>in</strong>e immunisation process exists <strong>in</strong> the country to immunise children below one year of age, only 69
per cent have received measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e.
"Even a substantial number of children rema<strong>in</strong> unprotected though they are vacc<strong>in</strong>ated. Hence this catch-up
campaign will help to susta<strong>in</strong> high measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation coverage," UNICEF representative Tania Goldner said
here.
As part of the national immunisation strategy, 14 states were identified by the National Advisory Group of
Immunisation (NTAGI) as hav<strong>in</strong>g less than 80 per cent coverage and were thus advised to <strong>in</strong>troduce a measles
catch-up drive for children between n<strong>in</strong>e months to 10 years.
"While the drive, a public health <strong>in</strong>itiative supported by UNICEF and WHO has already been <strong>in</strong>troduced <strong>in</strong> Assam
and Arunachal Pradesh, <strong>in</strong> other 12 states <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Madhya Pradesh it will be launched by this year-end," Health
Secretary of Madhya Pradesh S R Mohanty said.
For this, a measles campaign will be conducted over a per
iod of three weeks.
"The vacc<strong>in</strong>ation will be conducted <strong>in</strong> educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions dur<strong>in</strong>g the first week and <strong>in</strong> the regular immunisation
sites <strong>in</strong> the second and third week without <strong>in</strong>terrupt<strong>in</strong>g rout<strong>in</strong>e immunisation," Dr Satish Gupta of UNICEF India
said.
Apart from these 14 states, <strong>in</strong> the rest of the country, the second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation will be given as part
of the Rout<strong>in</strong>e Immunisation programme.
19

Edition : Bhopal
Date : 11.12.10
Measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation campaign <strong>in</strong> full sw<strong>in</strong>g
The much delayed drive to adm<strong>in</strong>ister a second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e to children <strong>in</strong> five districts of the State that
kicked off on Monday has f<strong>in</strong>ally reached full sw<strong>in</strong>g, as rural residents were seen participat<strong>in</strong>g wholeheartedly <strong>in</strong>
the <strong>in</strong>oculation program me.
Kaushalya, a Scheduled Caste woman from Balaghat district reached the <strong>in</strong>oculation venue with her three-month
baby. On be<strong>in</strong>g asked why she had not gone for work, she simply said vacc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g her baby aga<strong>in</strong>st the <strong>in</strong>fection
was more important than anyth<strong>in</strong>g else.
Respond<strong>in</strong>g to the questions regard<strong>in</strong>g the response generated by the programme, ANM worker Sunita Mathew
said villagers do not ask many questions and follow the <strong>in</strong>structions of health workers related to vacc<strong>in</strong>ation.
Another ANM worker of Lalbarra village Urmila Patale said, "We tell the villagers that the baby could get fever
subsequent to the vacc<strong>in</strong>ation". She added that they should immediately consult a doctor <strong>in</strong> case of such a fever.
Sarpanch of the village Shyam S<strong>in</strong>gh Chauhan says villagers were aware and if anyone of them refuses to go for
the vacc<strong>in</strong>ation with his/her child, then the panchayat forces him/her to take the child for vacc<strong>in</strong>ation.
ANM worker Mamta Sarrate said that the district lacked ASHA workers and people of adjo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g area of
Chhattisgarh face problem to understand the language. She said if the strength of ASHA workers could be
<strong>in</strong>creased, then the rate of vacc<strong>in</strong>ation would be even higher.
Contradictorily, giv<strong>in</strong>g credit to district adm<strong>in</strong>istration for the successful vacc<strong>in</strong>ation go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the district, Chief
Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Balaghat Dr SL Sahu said people were a bit lax, but the vigilance system was
robust so the turnover of people for vacc<strong>in</strong>ation was good.
The second dose of the measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e is be<strong>in</strong>g adm<strong>in</strong>istered <strong>in</strong> five districts of Madhya Pradesh under a pilot
campaign, launched by the Government of India. The five districts <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the project are Shivpuri, Tikamgarh,
Alirajpur, Jhabua and Badwani.
20

Edition : Bhopal
Date : 16.12.10
35 per cent measles <strong>in</strong>oculation <strong>in</strong> first week of pilot project
Over a week <strong>in</strong>to the second leg of the ongo<strong>in</strong>g pilot project to adm<strong>in</strong>ister the booster dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>
five districts of State, health employees have only managed to achieve 35 per cent of the set target, health
department official said on Tuesday.
Talk<strong>in</strong>g to The Pioneer, State Immunisation co-ord<strong>in</strong>ator Dr Ashw<strong>in</strong> Bhagwat said though the composite
achievement could be termed satisfactory, but there were variations at the district-level.
Beh<strong>in</strong>d the slow pace of <strong>in</strong>oculation, he said that as the first week was focused on schools the campaign penetration
was directly <strong>in</strong> proportion to enrollments and attendance at these <strong>in</strong>stitutions.
He also mentioned that the officials and health workers were fac<strong>in</strong>g resistance at private colleges. "We are plann<strong>in</strong>g
to <strong>in</strong>teract with private school adm<strong>in</strong>istrations to conv<strong>in</strong>ce them and aga<strong>in</strong> start the campaign, target<strong>in</strong>g schools
where poor <strong>in</strong>oculation figures have been reported", he added.
Outl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g contours of a fresh strategy to maximise the penetration of the drive, he said that district-level task forces
were be<strong>in</strong>g pushed to become more active and aggressive.
The Government of India pilot project to adm<strong>in</strong>ister second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e commenced on December 6 <strong>in</strong>
five districts of Madhya Pradesh.
The five districts covered under the drive are Shivpuri, Tikamgarh, Alirajpur, Jhabua and Badwani.
21

Edition : Bhopal
Date : 26.12.10
Last date for measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation extended till December 30
In view of a large number of children left out from <strong>in</strong>oculation, the Health department has extended the
last date of ongo<strong>in</strong>g pilot project to adm<strong>in</strong>ister the second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> five districts of
Madhya Pradesh till December 30. Earlier, the last date was December 25.
Now, the pilot project to give a booster dose of measles would end on December 30.
Notably, health employees have <strong>in</strong>oculated 10.11 lakh children so far and around four lakh children are
yet to receive the dose. The Health department had set a target of 14.5 lakh children for vacc<strong>in</strong>ation.
Talk<strong>in</strong>g to The Pioneer, State Immunisation Co-ord<strong>in</strong>ator Dr Ashw<strong>in</strong> Bhagwat said everyth<strong>in</strong>g was as
per the plan, as the Health employees met their target of <strong>in</strong>oculat<strong>in</strong>g 80,000 children on an average <strong>in</strong>
five districts. But, due to Moharram and Christmas, the vacc<strong>in</strong>ation work has been affected, he added.
Bhagwat further said a few pockets <strong>in</strong> tribal areas have been left and the Health employees would target
these specific places dur<strong>in</strong>g the next five days.
Notably, the Government of India's pilot project to adm<strong>in</strong>ister the second dose of measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e
commenced on December 6 <strong>in</strong> five districts of Madhya Pradesh.
The five districts covered under the drive are Shivpuri, Tikamgarh, Alirajpur, Jhabua and Badwani.
Through the project, the Government aims to vacc<strong>in</strong>ate all children <strong>in</strong> the age group of n<strong>in</strong>e months to
10 years to help bolster their immunity aga<strong>in</strong>st the deadly virus.
22

Edition : Bhopal
12 thousand children die of measles every year <strong>in</strong> the state.
23

Edition : Bhopal
Regional media workshop on measles held
24

DESHBANDHU
Edition : Bhopal
12 thousand children die of measles every year <strong>in</strong> the state.
25

Edition: Bhopal
Vacc<strong>in</strong>ation for life not just measles.
26

Edition: Bhopal
Regional workshop for media persons held
27

Edition: Assam
4 November, 2010
<strong>Media</strong> urged to dispel doubts about measles
GUWAHATI, Nov 3 – Assam will soon have an ambitious Measles Immunisation Drive offer<strong>in</strong>g a second
opportunity of vacc<strong>in</strong>ation to children with the launch of a pilot campaign <strong>in</strong> Morigaon district. The programme
will subsequently be launched <strong>in</strong> other districts.
From November 8, the campaign will target children between the age group of n<strong>in</strong>e months and 10 years <strong>in</strong>
schools, villages, and remote areas of the district <strong>in</strong> a phased manner. Morigaon will be one of the six districts of
the Northeast where the campaign is be<strong>in</strong>g launched <strong>in</strong>itially. A total of 2,11,229 children will be targeted dur<strong>in</strong>g
the drive, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those who had been vacc<strong>in</strong>ated earlier. The drive, also described as a Catch-up campaign, has
been planned to give a second chance to susceptible group of children and to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> population immunity aga<strong>in</strong>st
measles and susta<strong>in</strong> high measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation coverage. Under the programme, children will be immunised
irrespective of their previous measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation status. As the measles virus is extremely <strong>in</strong>fectious, the campaign
should reach more than 90 per cent. This was announced dur<strong>in</strong>g a media workshop on the immunisation drive
organised by NRHM Assam, WHO and UNICEF <strong>in</strong> Guwahati. Mission Director, NRHM Assam, Dr JB Ekka, <strong>in</strong>
his presentation described the drive as part of the strategy to lower over all <strong>in</strong>fant mortality rate <strong>in</strong> the state by
expand<strong>in</strong>g vacc<strong>in</strong>ation coverage. He urged the media to partner the stakeholders <strong>in</strong> the effort, and said media
persons could actually create a "positive demand" by mak<strong>in</strong>g people aware and <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> the campaign. He
added that they could contact the NRHM if any omissions or commissions came to their notice. In his
presentation, Dr Jnanendranath Sarma, Head of the Department Paediatrics, GMCH, identified some of the
challenges <strong>in</strong> effective execution of vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drives, one of which was scare monger<strong>in</strong>g that made people refra<strong>in</strong>
from gett<strong>in</strong>g their children immunised. Appeal<strong>in</strong>g to the media to play a responsible role, Dr Sarma who had been
<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drives for long, reasoned that a more <strong>in</strong>formed and supportive media could help people
have the correct perspective on the benefits of vacc<strong>in</strong>ation, and also po<strong>in</strong>t out any anomalies if and when such an
event occurred. He believed the media also needed to dispel doubts about measles among people, especially those
who perceived the disease as a manifestation of one of the twelve 'Aais', and therefore chose to stay away from
doctors. The media, he said, by provid<strong>in</strong>g factual <strong>in</strong>formation could make people change their attitude so that the
disease could be combated and <strong>in</strong>nocent lives saved. Dr Sarma dispelled doubts over the quality of the measles
vacc<strong>in</strong>e by stat<strong>in</strong>g that the medic<strong>in</strong>es are produced and approved with the highest levels of checks, and their
transport from factory to end-user is done <strong>in</strong> a highly controlled and secure environment. Acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g that
there was still a marg<strong>in</strong>al chance of th<strong>in</strong>gs go<strong>in</strong>g slightly wrong, he noted that this could only be attributed to
human error. However, there were protocols which would enable effective <strong>in</strong>terventions <strong>in</strong> the case of any side
effects. He requested the media to project the real picture about measles, its threats, and its preventable nature
among people, so that the campaign could be a complete success <strong>in</strong> Assam. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the workshop, it was revealed
that the new immunisation drive will not take place on a house-to-house basis, but will be carried out <strong>in</strong> schools,
villages and by mobile units <strong>in</strong> hard to reach areas. This was essential to ensure that the vacc<strong>in</strong>es were adm<strong>in</strong>istered
<strong>in</strong> the proper way.
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Edition: Kolkata
3 November, 2010
Measles drive <strong>in</strong> Morigaon
Guwahati, Nov. 2: Dispur has set 2011 as the deadl<strong>in</strong>e for 100 per cent measles immunisation among children <strong>in</strong>
the state.
The state director of the National Rural Health Mission, J.B. Ekka, today said Morigaon has been selected as one of
the districts <strong>in</strong> the country for a special measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drive or measles second dose drive from this month.
Ekka said the government would leave no stone unturned to make Morigaon a success story with 100 per cent
immunisation to further carry out the programme across the state from December to cover all children.
―The total measles immunisation coverage <strong>in</strong> the state is 70 per cent. This is not a very rosy scenario and
someth<strong>in</strong>g must be done drastically to achieve the 100 per cent mark.
―The government cannot afford to leave out 30 per cent of the children under threat of measles and will ensure total
coverage,‖ Ekka said. He was deliberat<strong>in</strong>g on the objectives of special measles immunisation drive at a media
sensitisation workshop here organised by the Assam government, World Health Organisation and Unicef.
States where immunisation coverage is below 80 per cent were selected by the Centre for the special drive on the
basis of the recent district-level household survey data.
Under the rout<strong>in</strong>e immunisation programme, children between n<strong>in</strong>e and 12 months are given one shot of measles
vacc<strong>in</strong>e. The second dose is aimed at sav<strong>in</strong>g thousands of children who were not covered <strong>in</strong> the first drive and
those who have missed the entire immunisation programme.
―The Assam government has laid tremendous emphasis on reduc<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>fant mortality rate <strong>in</strong> the state. The
objective cannot be met if we fail to cover all children under measles immunisation as the disease is considered to
be one of the biggest child killers <strong>in</strong> the state. The media will have to play a very crucial rule <strong>in</strong> sensitis<strong>in</strong>g parents
and public to make such immunisation drive a huge success,‖ Ekka said.
Dr J.N. Sharma, head of the paediatrics department at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, who is closely
associated with the child immunisation drive <strong>in</strong> the state s<strong>in</strong>ce 1985, attributed lack of awareness among the public,
prejudiced and unscientific m<strong>in</strong>dsets of parents <strong>in</strong> immunis<strong>in</strong>g their children and the negative role played by a
section of the media to the <strong>in</strong>effectiveness of immunisation drives.
―Whenever a vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drive is launched <strong>in</strong> the state, people raise doubts about the safety of vacc<strong>in</strong>es. Such an
attitude defeats half the purpose. Vacc<strong>in</strong>es are always safe. Negative side-effects occur only <strong>in</strong> case of serious
faults <strong>in</strong> adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g the doses to children,‖ Sharma said.
Dr A.C. Sharma, consultant of child health under NRHM, said the immunisation drive <strong>in</strong> Morigaon district would
be launched on November 8 and a total of 2,11,929 children would be covered with<strong>in</strong> three weeks.
He said the drive would be first launched <strong>in</strong> schools and then at village levels.
The hospitals and health centres <strong>in</strong> the district will carry out immunisation everyday. A batch of doctors, nurses and
para medics who underwent a tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g organised by the central government is ready to carry out the effective drive,
Sharma said.
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Edition: Guwahati
3 November, 2010
<strong>Media</strong> workshop on measles immunization drive held
GUWAHATI, Nov 2: A media sensitization workshop on measles immunization drive was held today <strong>in</strong> Guwahati.
The workshop was organized by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Assam, WHO and UNICEF.
Measles rema<strong>in</strong>s one of the lead<strong>in</strong>g causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a
safe and effective vacc<strong>in</strong>e.
―Measles is the lead<strong>in</strong>g cause of child mortality but national rout<strong>in</strong>e measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation coverage is 69 per cent
(DLHS-3). Of the 193 WHO member states, India is the only country with s<strong>in</strong>gle dose opportunity for measles
vacc<strong>in</strong>ation,‖ said Dr Ajay Trakoo of UNICEF at the media workshop. He added,―Measles complications occur
due to corneal scarr<strong>in</strong>g, encephalitis, pneumonia and diarrhoea. The WHO database <strong>in</strong> January 2010 showed that <strong>in</strong>
India an estimated 60,000-1,00,000 deaths have occurred due to measles. Hence a catch-up measles immunization
campaign has been organized <strong>in</strong> Morigaon district from November 8 for the first time for the susceptible group of
children to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> population immunity aga<strong>in</strong>st measles and susta<strong>in</strong> high measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation coverage.‖ The
first phase of the measles immunization drive was targeted at 45 districts <strong>in</strong> 13 States across the country.
Assam NRHM Mission Director Dr JB Ekka, said measles can be prevented by vacc<strong>in</strong>e and hence all children
between the age group n<strong>in</strong>e months to ten years should be vacc<strong>in</strong>ated aga<strong>in</strong>st this disease. ―Our coverage of
measles is 70 per cent and 30 per cent children are not protected at all. The immunization level <strong>in</strong> Morigaon is 75
per cent,‖ said Dr Ekka.
Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Dr JN Sharma said, though this
universal immunization programme started <strong>in</strong> India <strong>in</strong> 1985 more efforts are needed to make it sucessful. ―Through
the campaign we also want to change the m<strong>in</strong>dset of people who still have many superstitious beliefs. They should
be given proper <strong>in</strong>formation regard<strong>in</strong>g the importance of this vacc<strong>in</strong>e,‖ said Dr Sharma.
The measles immunization drive <strong>in</strong> Morigaon will be conducted over a period of three weeks. Instead of carry<strong>in</strong>g
the vacc<strong>in</strong>es from home to home, they will be adm<strong>in</strong>istered <strong>in</strong> educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions so that the vacc<strong>in</strong>es are not
damaged. At least one fixed site <strong>in</strong> each PHC/CHC/district hospital will rema<strong>in</strong> open on every work<strong>in</strong>g day
throughout the campaign period. Mobile teams will be deployed <strong>in</strong> difficult areas.
30

www.igovernment.<strong>in</strong>
16 November, 2010
Special measles vacc<strong>in</strong>ation drive <strong>in</strong> Assam
State government targets to immunise around 211,229 children dur<strong>in</strong>g pilot project <strong>in</strong> Morigaon district with<strong>in</strong>
three weeks
Guwahati: Assam government together with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and with support from
UNICEF and WHO launched a special measles immunisation programme called ―Second dose opportunity‖ last
week.
The immunisation programme that will be carried out over a period of three weeks will target children up to the age
group of 10 years.
Health officials target to immunise around 211,229 children <strong>in</strong> Morigaon district with<strong>in</strong> these three weeks. While
school children will be immunised dur<strong>in</strong>g the first week, the second and third weeks will cover children <strong>in</strong> villages
and river<strong>in</strong>e areas respectively.
Around 75 medical officers, 280 auxilliary nurses and midwives (ANMs) and 939 ASHA workers have been
pressed <strong>in</strong>to service to make this programme a success.
The specialty of the ―Second dose opportunity‖ programme is aimed at completely eradicat<strong>in</strong>g measles <strong>in</strong> the state.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that drastically damages the immunity <strong>in</strong> children. As a result, children are
more prone to contact<strong>in</strong>g diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea and Japanese encephalitis.
The programme also targets the 30 per cent of the state’s total children, who have rema<strong>in</strong>ed uncovered dur<strong>in</strong>g
various immunisation drives that have been carried out so far. Moreover, children who have already been
immunised aga<strong>in</strong>st measles can also receive the second dose to enhance their immunity.
―The efficacy of a measles vacc<strong>in</strong>e is usually 85 per cent and <strong>in</strong> rare cases an immunised child may develop
measles later. But tak<strong>in</strong>g the second dose of the vacc<strong>in</strong>e will ensure his full immunity to the diseases.
Initially, immunization will be carried out as a pilot project <strong>in</strong> Morigaon and later extended to other districts,‖ a
Health Department official said.
—iGovernment Bureau
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