Orientation & Onsite
Demonstration of
Media on
Routine Immunization
LOK SAMVAD
SANSTHAN
Amarpura (District Karauli)
November 26, 2016
Jointly Organized by :

After the successful completion of first workshop in Jaipur on October 24, 2016, and second workshop
in village Tejakavas of Kotra Block in Udaipur district on November 22, 2016, a public programme and
street play on the subject were organized at Amrapura village of Karanpurpanchayatsamiti in Karauli
district on November 26, 2016.
Lok Samvad Sansthan, a leading media advocacy based non-government organization based in Jaipur,
in partnership with the UNICEF Rajasthan Office, has launched a unique drive to orient and facilitate
the health beat reporters of various newspapers, television news channels and magazines as well media
professionals to have an improved understanding about routine immunization. The emphasis is on
understanding the prevalent conditions which make an impact on the current uptake among children
across the state of Rajasthan. This special initiative is being undertaken by organizing a series of
workshops in Jaipur and some other districts of Rajasthan.
Apart from mediapersons from the Karauli district headquarter, the villagers evinced a keen interest in the
programme and attended it in a large number. The media and public engagement was achieved through
demonstration and direct interaction, which was followed by a street play which served the dual purpose
of entertainment and education of the masses.
Building a strong routine immunization programme as an integral part of the health system is a develop-
ment challenge that requires a systems approach. A cohesive, well-functioning immunization programme
includes many components, all of which dynamically interact to influence the accessibility, availability,
acceptability, and affordability of services, with a desired result of continuous coverage, improved service
quality, equity, and sustained disease control. Needless to say, the media plays a significant role in this
entire exercise.
INTRODUCTION
The significant initiative, which will continue in other districts during December 2016, is expected to build
up a core network of media reporting on routine immunization and generate awareness in the public at
large on the subject.

Journalists at Karauli district headquarter evinced a keen interest in attending the demonstration during
field visit and travelled a distance of 80 km to reach Karanpur Panchayat Samiti, where Amrapura village
is situated. Ten journalists including, two journalists from electronic media, from Karauli and two
journalists from Keladevi Tehsil and one journalist from Karanpur block participated in the event, taking
their total number to 13.
PROCEEDINGS OF EVENT
The organizers contacted CMHO, Dr. Ramroop Meena, RCHO, Dr.Shriphool Meena and Block RCHO
Dr.Mukeshni Meena, but due to some emergency in the adjoining hospital, they were not able to attend
the event. They deputed Block Development Co-ordinator, Yajvendra Kumar Tiwari, to attend the event.
Journalists representing Hindi dailies Rajasthan Patrika and Dainik Bhaskar in Karanpur tehsil were also
invited to the workshop
IEC Coordinator from CMHO office at Karauli, Mr. Shiv Kumar Sharma, also attended the event. Besides,
Dr. Kamal Kant Trivedi from the Community Health Centre, Sapotra, was present. In all, the three events
– awareness generation, street play and and presentation on the routine immunization theme – were
presented by the Jan Kala SahityaManch. A huge gathering of rural men and women as well as the
curious children was present on the occasion.
The event started began with a brief introduction
on routine immunization process. During the
end of the event it was brought out that the
routine immunization rate is much higher in girls
than in boys. The reason was attributed to
various promotional schemes of the government
for girls, because of which the rural couples
bring their girl children for vaccination.

The media persons, who were are keen to
know about immunization process in the
rural areas, were informed that the current
status of full immunization is 77.4%, while
for the first time block-wise status has
been identified.
The Nukkad Natak through participation
method explained the full course
comprises three vaccines at birth, two
each at six, 10 and 16 weeks. After nine
months, a child gets the first dose of
measles vaccine & 1,00,000 international
units of vitamin A. If a child gets these vaccines for BCG, hepatitis B, oral and intravenous polio vaccines,
pentavalent (a vaccine for diptheria), pertusis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus
influenza, then he or she is considered fully immunized.
Children who have not taken even a single vaccine are categorized as leftovers. This category is less
than 4 % of the eligible children in Rajasthan. The State Government's Medical and Health Department is
working closely with UNICEF for taking the immunization figure to 100 %. Wherever the people are not
fully aware, activities such as street plays are being taken up to popularize immunization.
From the media brief given to the media persons, it was explained about the cold chain with which the
vaccines are supplied to the target groups in the cities, villages and far-off regions, it was stated
maintaining the potency of vaccines while they are carried was a big challenge. There are 2,181 cold
chain points in Rajasthan for storage of vaccine. There are contingency plans for preservation of vaccines
if power goes off at these storage points. The process of maintaining cold chain in them was explained to
the participants.

From among the audience, Mr. Satish Meena and Mr. Duleechand complained that no one had come to
the village for carrying out vaccination of children. It was then clarified that a mobile van carrying the
vaccines had been arranged and the ANMs were going from door to door to identify the children eligible
for immunization. A woman, Ms. Maya, said the residents of the village were getting cards for vaccination.
While some of the women complained that the nurse was not coming regularly, Ms. Sapna said she had
got complete vaccination for her child.
Several villagers pointed out that they were not regularly following the immunization schedule because
their children developed fever after the first or second dose of vaccination. ANMs Srishti and Tulsi
provided useful information on immunization
A positive aspect of the immunization activity is the increasing number of girls turning up for it. Villagers
pointed out that several schemes of the State Government, including Raj Shri, had the provision for
payment of money for the girl children, which was acting as an incentive for immunization of girls.
The prominent speakers who addressed the workshop were the noted journalist from Jaipur, Mr. Ashok
Chaturvedi, Jan Kala Sahitya Manch convenor Mr. Subhash Sharma, Block Programme Officer
Mr.Yajvendra Kumar Tiwari and IEC Coordinator Mr. Shiv Kumar Sharma. Their speeches made a
significant impact and left a lasting impression among the audience. Mr.Chaturvedi pointed out that the

reports of immunization were sent from all districts to the State Capital, Jaipur, and from Jaipur to New
Delhi. He said the people in Karauli district should play special attention to vaccination of their children,
as the graph in the district was quite low. Lok Samvad Sansthan's Secretary, Mr. Kalyan Singh Kothari,
said a large number of youths become disabled or mentally retarded as they do not get proper
vaccination during their childhood.
A special feature of the event was the entertaining
street play which capitivated the audience and
conveyed the intended message to them in a very
effective manner. The artistes of the play included
Mr. Mukesh Bairwa, Mr. Hanuman Bairwa,
Ms. Monika Saini, Mr.Malkhan, Ms.Manisha Soni,
Mr.ShabhuDayal and Mr.Kamaluddin, who played
different roles. Along with the play, the artistes sang
the song in chaste Rajasthani language: Mohan
Mharo, Man Bahlau Li. Chokhi Lyajo Moongphali,
Man Bhar Khaungi.

The workshop, which was accompanied by the entertaining street play, ended with a note of satisfaction,
as it provided very useful information and generated awareness among the residents of Amrapura village.
All the aspects of the routine immunization programme were highlighted during the workshop. These
aspects included maximizing the reach of quality vaccines through a well-functioning supply and cold
chain system, managing programmes with strong management support, mobilising people to generate
demand through community engagement and monitoring the programme's performance with rigorous
disease surveillance, data analysis and evaluation.
CONCLUSION
Strengthening routine immunization system performance and monitoring, as part of a functioning health
system, is the foundation to achieving immunization goals. As with the cold chain, strengthened capacity
through constant attention, maintenance, and repair is needed for sustained, effective, and efficient
performance of the entire programme. The substantial accomplishment of routine immunization
programmes in the past does not guarantee success in the future.
Despite encouraging results in the past, the routine immunization programme must still learn to adapt in
order to overcome persistent challenges and seize new opportunities. It should engage better with broader
efforts, such as using information technology more effectively, to ensure that immunization is well-
addressed. Immunization is one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Not only
does vaccination reduce death and disability from an increasing number of diseases, studies have shown
that it also increases life expectancy and contributes to a more productive workforce.
Routine Immunization services are a cornerstone of the health system and a basic public good that virtually
all governments provide to their populations. Routine services are the foundation of other immunization
efforts, including specific disease control initiatives, introduction of new vaccines and periodic campaigns to
improve vaccination coverage. They are also the primary way to reach new generations of children as early
in life as possible, preventing disease and protecting individuals and communities from premature death
and suffering. Routine immunization services are often the first, and sometimes only, interaction that poor f
amilies have with preventive health services. They are a largely untapped opportunity for addressing other
health needs in a state like Rajasthan.

MEDIA COVERAGE