“MY World” Bringing the People of India into the Global Conversation

“I am thrilled that by making a simple phone call people can take a virtual seat at the UN to participate in a global conversation on the roadmap for the future” - Ms Priyanka Chopra

Mumbai, 27 May 2013 – The United Nations has invited citizens from around the world to vote on the issues that make the most difference to their lives. Over 560,000 citizens from 194 countries have already voted in one of the largest global surveys ever undertaken, providing real-time and real-world intelligence on what people think are biggest challenges.

In order to draw people from the most marginalized communities in India into this global conversation, Actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Ms Priyanka Chopra launched the mobile application of the MY World survey today.

At the event hosted by the SP Jain Institute of Management Research and co-organized by the UNICEF and UN Millennium Campaign, Ms Chopra said, “This is a truly ground breaking initiative. I am thrilled that by making a simple phone call people can take a virtual seat at the UN to participate in a global conversation on a roadmap for the future. For the first time I feel we have an opportunity at hand to think ahead, think together yet individually and have a truly impactful plan for a future without poverty and suffering.”

The head of the UN system in India, Ms Lise Grande, emphasized, “Now more than ever, we need people to tell world leaders what they want. India is a global leader and when its people stand up for better healthcare, better education, decent work, pensions, sustainable energy for all, human rights and good governance, the world pays attention. The MY WORLD initiative is a way for Indians to shape the global development agenda. It’s an opportunity that’s too important to miss.”

Speaking at the event, UNICEF Representative for India, Mr Louis Georges Arsenault pointed out, “The highlight of this survey is that it has given young people an opportunity to contribute meaningfully in shaping the global agenda. I see Priyanka, UNICEF ambassador, as a role model and strong influencer who can encourage millions of young people in India to take this survey and participate in a process which is so important in defining our future priorities.”

Mr Minar Pimple, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, UN Millennium Campaign, described the launch of the mobile survey as an important step towards making the process more participatory. Mr Pimple said, “Given the deep penetration of the mobile phone in this country, we are hopeful that millions of people will cast their vote.”

Built on the principle of crowdsourcing, MY WORLD harnesses the full power of technology, social media and partnerships. The initiative is supported by over 400 partner organizations globally and has received strategic support from Department for International Development (DFID). In India, the mobile platform is a partnership between the Web Foundation, technology provider Kirusa, service provider Loop Mobile, hosted by the civil society partner, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan.

Through the initiative, people case their ballots in favour of the six most preferred developments that would significantly alter their future. Jamuna Mallar, a young woman from Vellore, Tamil Nadu said, “The whole exercise was in a language I could understand. Instead of being branded as the problem, here I was providing a solution.”

Results from the MY WORLD survey have been shared with the UN Secretary General, the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development. In India, the votes so far have indicated that the single largest transforming would be “better education” followed closely by “better job opportunities” and “better healthcare.”

Take the survey online at www.myworld2015.org or call 0730-201-0000
Latest global and country wise ballot counts, trends and priorities can be viewed at
http://data.myworld2015.org
For more information please contact:
Ms Geetanjali Master
gmaster@unicef.org
Ms Lopa Ghosh
lopa.ghosh@one.un.org

World Immunization week

Let's protect our children

Radio ads to promote immunization

Launch of National Communication campaign

Dr Naveen Thacker address at Sandesh News

From: Sandesh News

Pneumonia - A breath of life video

Routine Immunization: Fact sheet

The vaccination of hope!

Government of India launches its new communication campaign for routine immunisation in India

Lack of awareness on routine immunisation, little or no knowledge on vaccine-preventable diseases, the need to reach out to some of the remote, high-risk districts in India to create demand for routine vaccination, has encouraged India to develop a holistic and integrated communication strategy on routine immunization. To be sure, the Indian government has declared 2012-2013 as the ‘year of intensification of routine immunisation’ in line with the World Immunisation Week 2013. What’s more, India has identified four rounds of special immunisation weeks in high-risk areas during the months of April, June, July and August.

With the aim to branding immunisation in a big way, so it can be visible in the minds of the people who are ignorant of its benefits, the Indian government through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the help of other stakeholders, including UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO), launched its unique communication strategy early this week that will roll out all over India in the next two-three months. This includes a new logo, television spot, radio jingle, besides posters informing people about the benefits of vaccines.


The logo is that of a chubby smiling baby in white diapers comfortably holding an injection in her hand, saying, “Don’t forget, vaccination your baby must get.” The television spot is that of indulgent family members gushing over a new-born baby who reminds them that they have to take her for routine vaccination and immunisation. The effect is evident: Even as adults temporarily forget the basic right for their child to live, survive and grow, the child reminds them to take her for routine vaccinations instead.

The logo, television and radio spots and posters were launched in New Delhi earlier this week by Anuradha Gupta, additional secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Speaking on the occasion, Gupta spoke of the challenges of routine immunisation that still plague the country and why it is important to reinforce the message to the parents, many of whom are unaware of the benefits of these vaccinations. It is a dual challenge: reaching out to 2.7 crore new born children every year while also tracking the growth and vaccinating children up to five years (13-14 crore children every year by that yardstick) and educating parents on the advantages of giving their children routine vaccination.

The task is not easy, as UNICEF’s India Representative Louis-Georges Arsenault noted, especially given some shocking findings on reasons why people don’t immunise children: roughly 28 per cent of parents felt there was no need for it, 10.8 per cent had no idea where to go for vaccinations, 26 per cent had no idea they even existed, and roughly 8 per cent feared side effects because of myths and wrong information spread about routine immunisation. Arsenault noted that issues were restricted not just on demand but also supply side especially with vaccines not available in certain areas (6.2 per cent), services not available (2.1 per cent) and in some cases long waiting time (2.1 per cent) (Figures as per CES 2009 report). Arsenault also noted that the “last mile” was always challenging; even as DPT-3 coverage in India is roughly 72 per cent, 75 lakh children still await getting the dose.

Taking the micro-planning route, identifying the high-risk areas, marking priority districts, targeting urban slums and tracking the growth trajectory of children and mothers, besides rolling out the communication strategy is the way forward for the success of routine immunisation, according to the experts who were present at the event.

For a country that has eradicated polio fully for the last two years, the effort for routine immunisation needs to gather more force especially given alarming statistics of 8 million deaths of new born babies every year and 7.4 million kids still waiting for their vaccinations even as roughly 4 million lives of babies get saved every year.

The yawning gap needs to be filled. The routine immunisation communication strategy is the way forward and this is just the beginning.

Government to intensify efforts on child vaccination.

To create awareness on the urgency to vaccinate every eligible child and intensify efforts to improve the coverage, the health ministry has launched special immunization weeks campaign

The communication campaign aimed at increasing awareness among people in remote areas, was launched by Ms Anuradha Gupta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission on April 29, 2013 at New Delhi. The media event was held in presence of development partners and health officials, in collaboration with UNICEF, as a part of the first special immunization week (April 24-30).

Speaking to media, Ms Gupta mentioned that the special immunization week is an opportunity to reinforce India's call to action for child survival and development. "The new RI logo and other communication material will promote consistent messaging to raise awareness on the urgency of reaching every child with lifesaving immunization," added Anuradha Gupta while pointing towards a new RI logo, TV spot, radio spot and posters that have been included in the campaign. She also emphasized on the need of ensuring that all the vaccines given free of cost, reach every last child in the country.



Emphasizing on UNICEF's focus to promote equity in programme results, Mr Louis Georges Arsenault, UNICEF India Representative said, "In India, inequity persists within and between states. There are geographical, rural-urban, rich-poor, gender and other related differences in vaccination coverage. Disparities need to be addressed to reach every last child. The Special Immunization Week is an opportunity for all of us to renew focus on ensuring equity in immunization coverage."

"Pentavalent vaccine expansion is a significant step in India's call to action to renew its commitment to child survival and development by strengthening key strategic public health interventions. Pentavalent protects children from Hib pneumonia and Hib meningtisin addition to protection from diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and Hepatitis B," said Mr Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The intensified campaign comes in backdrop of the fact that close to 75 lakh children every year miss the benefits of childhood vaccinations. A majority of those missing the opportunity are from among the undeserved and marginalized populations. Being unvaccinated keeps them at highest risk of catching life threatening childhood diseases. Keeping in view these facts, the year 2012-13 was declared as "Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization" by the government of India. After successful introduction in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, intensification efforts saw the expansion of pentavalent vaccine to six more states in India.

From: Biospectrum (The business of Bioscience), New Delhi

Special immunization week launched to cover 184 high-rish districts

From: Political and Business Daily, New Delhi

Don’t forget vaccination to every child

From: National Duniya, All Edition

Immunization sessions to intensify efforts to reach every last child with vaccination.

From: Deepika, Kerela

Measles immunization

Sixth round of measles supplementary immunization in progress

Supplementary measles immunization round underway last month in Vidisha District of Madhya Pradesh. This was  sixth round of measles supplementary immunization, reaching out 40 lakh children in age group of 9 months to ten years in sixteen districts of Madhya Pradesh. The rounds were conducted by Department of Health & Family welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh as per guidelines of Government of India, with technical support of UNICEF and WHO. 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, Government of Madhya Pradesh. 

Measles immunization drive in Vidisha District of Madhya Pradesh.

Pictures by: Amit Gulati

UNICEF says, Pentavalent is safe