By Sayanti Bit | Manager, Institutional Partnership
Immunization Programme is one of the key interventions for protection of children from life threatening conditions, which are preventable. Yet, an estimated 11.6 lakh children die every year within one year of their birth due to lack of immunization.
‘Happy First Birthday’ was a CRY initiative to ensure 42,971 newborn children across CRY supported projects across India to have access to the mandatory vaccination dosages that immunize them from easily preventable diseases and any fatal outcomes. With Your support we have been able to ensure complete immunization of 44,207 newborns. CRY and its partners will continue to work with the parents, communities and public health centers to overcome challenges that stand in the way of children receiving immunization.
Case Story 1:
Ansh a nine-month old little boy lives in a rented home with his mother and father in Tejpur, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His father works as a tailor and mother is a homemaker. Soon after he was born Ansh had only received the BCG vaccination and no other vaccines because he did not have a vaccination card and neither was he enrolled in a nearby Aaganwadi Kendra. CRY along with the project partner Deenbandhu spoke to the mother and shared the importance of immunisation and the different ways to prevent diseases. Through regular interaction the mother understood the benefits immunisation would have on Ansh and was motivated towards regular vaccination.
Ansh was enrolled in an Aaganwadi Kendra so that he could be regularly vaccinated and he also received his vaccination card. After the enrollment in the Kendra, Ansh’s mother was regularly informed about the vaccinations so that she would not miss any cycle. Now, Ansh is getting his regular vaccines, his weight is increasing as per his age and he is perfectly healthy. Your support can ensure many more children like Ansh begin a healthy start to life.
Case Story 2:
CRY’s partner Mitwa in Chhattisgarh, has been working on the issue of immunisation in the Bilaspur slums. The project team helps create awareness through meetings and discussions with Mahila Mandal (Women Groups), adolescent girls and Anganwadi workers to ensure 100% immunisation.
One family in the slums did not take their 1-year old son for immunisation. The members of Mahila Mandal identified this family and spoke to the parents to ensure the child receives the required vaccines. During one discussion with the family they found out that the father was against immunisation as the child would get fever post receiving the vaccine.
The Mahila Mandal shared this with the organisation, the team continued to motivate the mother and share benefits of immunisation. Due to continued efforts, the mother agreed to take her son for immunisation without the knowledge of her husband. Today the child is immunised against Measles.
CRY along with Mitwa is building perspective on immunisation and motivating the mothers to come forward and overcome challenges that stand in the way of having their children immunised. Your support can help us give many children a healthy start to life.
CRY thanks you all for supporting the project.
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