UNICEF & George Institute for Global Health deliberated on "Critical Appraisal Skills for Media reporting" on Routine Immunization on 22 May 2014. A group of over 40 communication specialists and heads of journalism schools from states with low #Immunization rates  discussed novel approaches to engage with media on health reporting. Media in its role of key influencer can take an evidence-based approach and bridge the gap in media coverage on Routine immunization. #oxforduniversity @Nuffield School of Population Health #uinnovate #GAVIalliance #gavi

BBC News: Eradicating polio one step at a time

By Vikas PandeyBBC Monitoring

Sita Devi says she is committed to keeping India polio-free

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A few years ago, India accounted for half the world's cases of polio. Today it is officially clear of the disease. This remarkable feat is largely down to an army of women who, one step at a time, have crisscrossed the country on foot to give the under-fives polio vaccines.

Sita Devi is one of India's "polio aunties". The 57-year-old often walks miles in the searing heat to find children in remote villages and communities who need vaccinating.

She is one of the hundreds of thousands of women working in Aanganwadis - health care centres - in India which provide free basic services to those who cannot afford to pay.

They are part of the Pulse Polio Initiative that was started in 1995 with the aim of eradicating the disease from the country.

Sita Devi often walks long distances in the heat to reach families in need of the vaccine

Since then, 12.1 billion doses of polio vaccine have been administered here.

In 2006 India still accounted for half of all global cases of polio - but earlier this year it recorded three years without a new reported case.

This achievement allowed the World Health Organization (WHO) to finally declare its entire South East Asia region polio-free.

'New problem'

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Countries in WHO SE Asia region

• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Democratic People's Republic                           of Korea
• India
• Indonesia
• Maldives
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste

But now Ms Devi is worried. She doesn't know if she can persuade the families she works with in the rural areas around Allahabad in northern India to have their children immunised again.

She airs her concern at a morning meeting of Aanganwadi workers in one of Allahabad's regional health offices.

It's 45C (113F) outside and a rusty fan isn't doing much to cool the room down.

Ms Devi's worry is partly down to the success of the eradication programme - the next round of immunisations is due in June but many families do not see the logic in repeated vaccinations now that India is polio-free.

"This is a new problem. We must deal with it carefully so that people understand why we are giving the anti-polio drops," she tells Rajesh Singh, the regional health officer.

As a chorus of similar worries erupts, Mr Singh encourages the Aanganwadi workers to tell the families regular immunisation is important to keep the disease away.

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Vaccination drive against Japanese Encephalitis in three dists from May 5

PATNA: Bihar government is going to launch a special vaccination drive against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) from May 5 in three districts: Jamui, Sheikhpura and Lakhisarai. In the special drive, children in the age of 1-5 will be administered the JE vaccine.

Last year 12 cases of JE were detected in Bihar. JE vaccination campaign was launched in 2007 and till date, 19 districts of districts of the state have already been covered, said state immunization officer Dr N K Sinha. They include Patna, Nawada, Bhojpur, Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Gopalganj, Aurangabad, Vaisahli, Samastipur and Bhagalpur. Altogether, 31 districts of Bihar are JE-endemic. Around 10 crore children have been vaccinated against JE in India, of which 25% (2.3 crore) children are in Bihar.

In the current drive, children will be vaccinated at all the schools. In order to reach the uncovered children at schools, a door-to-door campaign will be launched in which the local health activists will mobilize people to the health centre where the injectable vaccine will be administered. Playing down the concerns whether private schools will come on board, a health official shared his experience about the drive in Patna and said, "Though some private schools were initially reluctant, they later came on board. A day before vaccination, teachers were asked to send a note to parents, informing them that on the next day the children will be vaccinated and if they did not want to give consent, they must not send their child to the school. However, most of the parents gave their consent."

At a workshop jointly organized by the State Health Society and PATH, an NGO, experts said there was no treatment against JE. "Antibiotics cannot treat JE. Only symptomatic treatment is possible. Vaccination is the only way to prevent it," said PMCH paediatrician Dr Nigam Prakash Narain.

Doctors also highlighted the fact that the culex mosquito that causes JE mostly breeds in rice fields. The virus enters the body through blood stream and infects brain and spinal cord and may render the child disabled for ever. "It should not be considered a disease that can hit only the poor because mosquitoes can bite anyone as they breed in stagnant water," said doctors.

Experts added, "Though vaccination is the best way to prevent JE, the importance of avoiding mosquito bites, preventing water stagnation and modification of pig rearing practices can't be ignored in fight against JE."

Fever with convulsions and chills and abnormal behavior due to brain dysfunction are common symptoms of JE. While 30% cases of JE are fatal, another 40% could lead to mental retardation.

Source: TimesofIndia