ANM and Anganwadi workers are the backbone of immunization campaign

As a follow-up to the IGNOU-UNICEF partnership, several journalists have been engaged as 'a ore group of media' to continue reporting on immunisation along the lines of the media training and disucssion done on 26th June during the first workshop. Santosh Kumar, Special Correspondent from Prabhat Khabar, a leading daily fro Bihar recently is one such media participant who continues to write on immunisaiton. Enclosed is his article on a routine immunisation session and the role of an Anganwadi worker,  written while in remote district of Bihar in  Muzaffarpur, on a UNICEF facilitated visit. Many thanks to Alpana from our A&P section and to Dr. Ravi Chandran for facilitating the visit.

UNICEF-IGNOU Routine Immunization Awareness Programme


ANM and Anganwadi workers are the backbone of immunization campaign

Santosh Kumar Singh back from Muzzafarpur

New Delhi: Today is the last Monday of the month. Anganwadi worker Vaijayanti Kumari is asking women in areas around her centre in Muzzafarpur to come for immunization. She keeps moving forward…. Then, 30-year old Kishori Devi‘s voice can be heard, “How can I come? I have to go for work. Vaijayanti Kumari speaks in an admonishing tone, “You had been informed about the immunization day in the Women’s Group meeting. Is earning more important to you than your child? Anganwadi helper is coming. Send your child along with her.” Within the next 10 minutes, a crowd starts assembling outside centre no.55. Everyone has a card in their hands. ANM of the concerned block, Rita Kumari is taking the cards from the mothers and immunizing the children accordingly. The anganwadi worker has the record of all the children in the area who have to be immunized. Then, the anganwadi helper comes and informs that in spite convincing her Shabana is not ready to bring her 3-month old child for vaccination. She says that the child’s father has refused for immunization saying that people perform incantations in the garb of vaccination. Vaijayanti Kumari gets concerned, but hopes that she comes for immunization. She takes Shagina Khatoon, who is a mother of a 3-month old child, along with her to Shabana’s house. She tells Shabhana again about the advantages and importance of immunization. Shabana finally comes to the centre and the child is immunized.

ANM Rita Kumari says that since it is a backward area, most of the women are uneducated. Initially, they were not at all ready for immunization. But, now they have started realizing its importance. It may not be 100 per cent, but 70 per cent of the women are coming to the centre for immunization on a regular basis. At the meeting of the Women’s Group at the anganwadi centre, this issue is usually discussed and is proving beneficial. Superstitions that are deep seated in the minds of the people are slowly diminishing. Now, even men are getting their wives to the centre along with the child which is proving easy.

Rita Kumari says that immunization for BCG, OPB, DPT, Hepatitis-B, Measles and Encephalitis is done on a regular basis. Vaijayanti Kumari shows her register and says that most of them do not even know what vaccinations have been given to their children. But through this register and with the help of the card which has been given to them, we find out about the vaccines to be given to the child. On every immunization day, some new children are also included. Sometimes, there is shortage of vaccines as well.

Muzaffarpur District immunization officer, Dinesh Prasad Singh says that two months back there was a problem due to shortage of vaccines for a few days, but now we have all the vaccines available. He says that immunization safeguards children from 8 life-threatening diseases. Concerns remain regarding providing training to the anganwadi workers. When new types of vaccines are introduced, the anganwadi workers and ANM need the necessary training on the issue. Under the National Immunization Programme, new vaccines are introduced from time to time. Inconsistency in the Women’s Group meetings too causes a bit of problem. On providing information regarding Encephalitis, Singh says that in reports that have come in from Pune, Hyderabad and Delhi, this disease has not been confirmed. However, as a precautionary measure, immunization is been carried out in sensitive areas. ANM of Mithanpura Neelu and Urmila, Vibha of Chhata Chowk, Seema of Baalu Ghat too were agile at their work. They realize that the responsibility for ensuring a better future for the children rests on them.