INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE

POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE

CONTENTS

West Bengal Chief Minister leads the war against polio P2

Panchayat leaders address polio risk factors P3

Tracking nomads in hard-to-reach areas P4

Brick kiln chimneys spread polio messages in Bihar P5

Polio outreach with nomads at Pooth mela P5

Nauchandi resonates with polio and RI messages P6

Polio advocacy with over two million parents in Urs P7

Tracking and immunizing the nomadic population is now crucial for the polio eradication programme in India. Constantly on the move, they miss polio vaccination and routine immunization, and are at risk of not only getting polio but also spreading the virus. Such a group of Banjaras was tracked during an Urs at a tiger reserve project in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district for polio immunization.

For more information contact: [email protected] Volume V I July 2011 INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

West Bengal Chief Minister leads the war against polio

newly elected Chief Minister that they will vaccinate their children. “We THEof West Bengal, Mamata have to take the vaccine so that there are Banerjee, launched the 26 June polio no cases of polio”, the Chief Minister said campaign, vowing “to eradicate the virus calling upon parents and caregivers across from wherever it is in existence”. West the state to ensure that they immunize Bengal is the only state with poliovirus their children in the coming and all transmission in India this year. ensuing polio immunization campaigns to eradicate the virus from West Bengal. Ms All health workers and parents “in every Banerjee immunized four children while inch” of the state, should take the oath launching the campaign.

The talking doll show in Kolkata streets attracts huge crowd at every performance.

UNICEF Chief Of Field Services, Edouard of West Bengal, Shekhar Mehta, said Beigbeder, present on the occasion, that the Chief Minister’s support is a big underlined the remarkable achievement boost to the polio eradication efforts in of India falling from 741 cases of polio the state, which has been intensified. two years ago to just one solitary case this year: “And naturally we need to go down The community mobiliser volunteers, to zero - to ensure that this disease is only their number almost trebled since the a memory”. detection of the polio virus in January, to cover 37 high-risk blocks spanning nine WHO National Polio Surveillance districts, continue to counsel families Project Deputy Project Manager, Dr during and in between the polio rounds. Sunil Bahl, said that the whole country, Interactive meetings with mothers, in fact, the world is looking to West religious leaders, influencers, street Bengal, and that under Ms Banerjee’s shows and magic shows, talking doll leadership the virus will be eradicated. shows are being organized throughout West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, launching the June polio campaign. Incoming Rotary International Director the high-risk blocks to create awareness INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

and mobilize the community on an of the panachayati raj and celebrities are ongoing basis. Persistent efforts to being involved in polio advocacy. January February March April May June

improve community mobilization through Source: District Health & Family Welfare Samiti Panchla 439 964 611 359 enhanced IPC training and intense The Kolkata Knight Riders cricket team, 418 375 activities have led to reduction in refusals a favorite in the recently concluded 546 Panchla 826 Sankrail 616 820 to OPV and cases of community declining IPL tournament, joined the ‘Bowl Out 964 747 791 521 16.5 765 482 polio vaccination due to sickness. Polio’ campaign ahead of a match 788 410 749 490

Religious leaders, elected representatives in Kolkata and the May polio campaign. Sankrail 616 Uluberia I 490 772 724 861 708 511 586 390 595 348 594 467

Uluberia I 579 Uluberia II 275 724 242 424 651 299 570 248 330 563 280 537 307 387

Uluberia II 285 HMC 291 242 279 248 242 248 253 262 190 307 310

HMC 687 Zone V 395 793 496 539 384 477 388 427 337 525 369

Overall reduction 24 % Overall reduction 13 %

Kolkata Knight Riders’ team members at a polio advocacy event prior to the May round in Kolkata. Howrah remaining XR Howrah remaining XS

Panchayat leaders address polio risk factors

collaboration with the Indian Associa- The participants came up with RECOGNIZING tion of Parliamentarians on Population substantive suggestions of activities the importance of engaging elected and Development. they would undertake in their respective people’s representatives Panchayati communities/wards to address issues Raj Institutions (PRIs) to support polio The workshop aimed at enhancing like sanitation and hygiene, promote eradication, an interactive day-long knowledge of participating panchayat routine immunization etc, to eradicate workshop was organized in South 24 leaders on polio and associated issues, polio. Parganas, West Bengal on 23 June. illustrating with examples, how/what they can do for mobilizing the commu- The workshop, evoked good participa- More than 130 panchayat members nity and ensuring that all children under tion from even media, and enhanced Panchayati Raj elected representatives discuss various initiatives to support polio eradication, from high risk pockets/blocks partici- five are administered polio drops every local-ownership of the polio eradication in 24 South Parganas on 23 June. pated in the workshop, conducted in time it is offered. programme. INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Tracking nomads in hard-to-reach areas

100,000 members of a seek blessings for the well-being of their OVERnomadic community – near and dear ones, especially children. 5101 Informers in the first week of May 2011 the Banjara’s - congregated at the tiger reserve project at Puranpur, in Pilibhit As per the 2001 census, nomads district of Uttar Pradesh, for an Urs at constitute 0.7% (1,260,000) of the the mausoleum of Sufi saint Syed Sela total population in Uttar Pradesh. Baba Dargah. As occupational groups of hunters, trappers, blacksmiths, basket weavers or The week-long Urs in March is sacred entertainers like puppeteers, fortune- for the community as the Sufi saint is tellers, singers and dancers, they are said to have belonged to the Banjara continuously on the move. community. Every year, this nomadic community seeks special permission Over the past few years, the polio from the State Forest Department to programme has put stringent measures visit the mausoleum, offer prayers and to track such communities. The Social

Tracking of High Risk Groups, UP, April 2011 – May 2011.

Mobilization Network (SMNet) in A rapid and small survey was conducted Uttar Pradesh, in coordination with with 500 Banjara families, through random the Health Department and WHO- sampling, to know more about the NPSP, sought permission of the State community’s perspective towards polio and Forest Department to carry out polio health seeking behaviours. With alarmingly vaccination during the congregation low literacy levels, it came as no surprise this year. The Health Department set that 55 percent respondents felt polio was up transit teams, which tracked and a ‘curse of God’. immunized 4,530 children under five years of age. The SMNet continues to endeavor to reach out and mobilise such communities for Banners endorsed by the Dargah Sela polio immunization, routine immuniza- Baba Committee were put up to create tion and other polio-associated issues such awareness. SMNet organized 14 group as hygiene, sanitation, exclusive breast- meetings which were attended by feeding and diarrhea management and 246 Banjara pilgrims, to discuss the nutrition. Protecting such populations importance of routine immunization, is now most important for the eradication UNICEF Block Mobilization Coordinator interacting with a group of Banjara’s during the Urs. including polio. programme. INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Polio outreach with Brick kiln chimneys spread polio messages nomads at Pooth mela

Every four years, members of a nomadic in Bihar tribe called the ‘nats’ from across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan congregate at ‘Pooth Garh shrine’ in -year-old Geeta, a mother of three, It is encouraging that brick kiln owners Ghaziabad district of polio endemic west 25has her priority clear - making have come forward in the fight Uttar Pradesh. This year too, the Nats 300 bricks a day. “I don’t have time to against polio. “We can eradicate polio arrived months in advance at the shrine even think of taking my children to the from Bihar, but everybody has to pitch- of Hukum Singh Bajaniya. aganwadi center for routine immuniza- in”, asserts Ravindra Singh, owner of tion,” she admits. Kanchan brick kiln in Maner block, Patna. Transit teams of vaccinators, put “I am fully committed to the campaign together by the Health department in Hundreds of such mothers work in brick and am happy to have the polio message collaboration with NPSP, were deployed kilns in Bihar, coming from far-away states painted on the chimney of my brick kiln,” at strategic points to immunize children like Assam, Jharkhand, West Bengal and he says. Brick kiln workers are happy accompanying the pilgrims. To reach Andhra Pradesh in search of livelihood. with the developments. “Everytime I them with polio messages, banners Most of them are unskilled labourers and lookup, it reminds me of getting my child were displayed at strategic points, health keep migrating from one place to another. polio vaccine every time it is offered,” camps organized and audio-visual shows As a result, their children often miss says Sunita, a mother working at Hero screened during the weeklong event. As immunization, including polio. Brick kiln in Patna, Bihar. part of this intervention, 2,647 children were vaccinated for OPV. With increased focus on migrants, UNICEF When the mobile teams of polio initiated efforts to generate awareness vaccinators visit brick kilns, the chimneys These nomads are constantly moving on polio among brick kiln workers. One are a reminder that this dose of OPV in search of livelihood, resulting in their way was through getting polio messages and the subsequent doses are extremely children often missing immunization. painted on brick kiln chimneys. The important for every child up to five years Hence, the focus of the polio programme message was clear and simple – Polio-free to protect against the disease, which is on these vulnerable social groups. India, two drops of protection, every child cripples for life, has no cure, but can be every time. prevented by taking OPV each time it is offered. “Mobilizing brick kiln owners for getting polio messages painted on chimneys The migrants working in brick kilns was tough,” says UNICEF’s community are among the highest risk populations mobilizer Mohammad Mannan Alam who for polio. Special interventions are works in Araria district of Bihar. “Through made to track them, counsel them, to our persistent efforts, we convinced them ensure they are covered during each and now they whole-heartedly support polio campaign and also to study their Polio message painted on a brick CMC Kanta Sharma counsels mothers the programme,” he says with a broad kiln chimney. migration patterns for interventions in smile on his face. their home states. using the flip book during the mela. INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Nauchandi resonates with polio and RI messages

Nauchandi Mela or fair - one devotees on polio and related issues THEof the largest cultural events like routine immunization, hygiene and in , the traditional polio endemic sanitation, diarrhoea management using district in western Uttar Pradesh - follows ORS and zinc tablets and nutrition. The a centuries old tradition initiated by cattle intervention is pertinent in the densely traders in 1672. It also highlights Hindu- populated , which often Muslim harmony with the Nauchandi reports sporadic cases of communities temple and Bala Mian Dargah (shrine) avoiding polio vaccine, making it one of adjacent to each other and devotees from the key districts for the polio programme. both faiths paying obeisance. The district Panchayat Member Maninder Spread over a month, the fair hosts Pal Singh and Meerut District Magistrate over 50,000 people daily. The Social Subhash Chandra Sharma inaugurated Mobilization Network (SMNet) in Uttar the special polio drive at the Nauchandi Pradesh, used the occasion to create fair. As crowds swelled in the evening, awareness among the thousands of transit teams were deployed at eight

A street show on polio and routine immunization in a high-risk area of Meerut.

strategic points from 8 pm until jeena isi ka naam hai’. The event got wide midnight to ensure no child missed polio media coverage in the local newspapers. immunization at the fair. Bright and attractive canopies were erected with To connect with the audience, a local polio messages at these strategic points. theatre group ‘Muktakash Natya Within a span of about 10 days - from Sansthan’ was engaged to conduct street April 24 to May 2 - more than 6,000 plays and magic shows on polio-plus children were given OPV at the fair. issues such as routine immunization, diarrhoea management through ORS and Polio messages endorsed by local zinc, hygiene and sanitation and nutrition, religious leaders and the district Chief including early initiation of and exclusive Medical Officer were disseminated breastfeeding. The artists were oriented through banners at prime locations and on technical correctness of messages by distributing leaflets to the devotees. and script. Going by the tremendous Mobile kiosks (thelas) played messages on community response, even after the fair polio and huge screens showed Amitabh concluded, these street plays and magic Bachchan’s polio films and video clips shows were staged at various high-risk Transit booths and mobile kiosks with polio messages at Nauchandi Fair. from UNICEF’s flagship serial ‘Kyun Ki..... urban and rural pockets of Meerut. INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Polio advocacy with over two million parents in Urs

annual Urs in Ajmer, Rajasthan, administration this year also prepared The intervention is part of the THEin the memory of Khwaja for administering oral polio vaccine migrant strategy of the polio eradication Moinuddin Chisti, a highly respected to children up to five years among programme in India to ensure that Sufi saint, fondly revered as the the devotees. The intervention was people on the move are well protected benefactor of the poor and popularly synchronized with similar initiatives in against polio. In the last few years, most known as Gareeb Nawaz, attracts Uttrakhand and Rajasthan to ensure no polio cases have been among either millions of people from across child is missed. the mobile and migrant community the country. Interestingly, before or people living in proximity to them. proceeding to Ajmer via Delhi, the The district authorities in collaboration Tracking and immunizing the migrant devotees make a stopover at Bareilly with WHO-NPSP, deployed 15 teams and mobile population is the in western Uttar Pradesh to pay homage for 10 days from May 27 to June 6, top programme priority. The in- at a local dargah. 2011 at strategic entry and exit points, tervention in Bareilly also helped such as railway station and the Dargah Banners promoting Oral Polio Vaccine at sustain the community’s as well Khanqah-e-Niyazia street during Qul-e- site. A local NGO also set up a health Khuwaza at Bareilly. religious fraternity’s support to polio camp for the devotees. Banners and eradication. posters with messages on polio vaccination, endorsed by the dargah authorities, were put up and leaflets Uttar Pradesh Non epidemic UP* distributed to the pilgrims at the dargah, Migratory Migratory 7% 14% strategic entry and exit points and the health camp.

Non- Migratory Non- Migratory Railways allowed display of banners on 93% N = 118 86% N = 56 the Ala Hazrat Express, a special train for devotees heading for the Urs in Ajmer and made regular announcements Bihar calling upon the devotees to ensure that Rest of India their children take oral polio vaccine Migratory Migratory 2% from the transit polio vaccination teams 40% Ala Hazrat Express, a dedicated train for present at the station. travelers to the Ajmer Urs passes through Bareilly with Polio banners and posters. As part of this special initiative, 10,414 Non- Migratory N = 90 Non- Migratory N = 48 98% children were immunized at different 60% While gearing up to host over 200,000 points in Bareilly during the Urs, among devotees from West Bengal, Bihar, them 102 resistant families were *Non epidemic UP excludes , JP Nagar, Badaun, Kanshiram Nagar, Bareilly and Rampur districts *Data as on 10 July 2011 Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar counseled and mobilized to vaccinate Migration status of WPV1 cases 2007-11 Pradesh and Nepal, the Bareilly their children. INDIA POLIO COMMUNICATION UPDATE

For more information contact: [email protected]