Field visit at Patna during Regional Media Consultation on Routine Immunization (RI)

Wednesday is Life-Saving Day at Kot!a"

The Anganwadi centre at the primary school in Kothwa village of Seikhpura locality of Patna was
agog with activity on a pleasant Wednesday afternoon (September 24 2!"4#$
The air was filled with mischievous laughter of playful kids and animated gossip of young mothers
who had gathered at the school from the village and nearby areas$ %t felt as if it was some kind of
a special day for the local community$
&'es it is( young )ohan father of a two *year old child confirmed$ &%t is not any other day **
it+s Tikakaran Diwas (Immunization Day) which takes place on Wednesdays$(

)ohan is enthusiastic about immuni,ing his child against preventable disease and accompanies
his wife and child for vaccination at the school centre$ &% had heard about teekakaran but % was
unaware of its full benefits$ There were stories too going around in our locality about how these
teekas are dangerous( he told a visiting team of -ournalists from five states who were attending
a two*day media workshop on .outine %mmuni,ation in Patna on September 24 and 2/ 2!"4$

&0ut the A1) came to my house and e2plained the process and its benefit to me and my wife$ %
reali,ed it was the best gift we could give to our first born( he said with a smile$
)ohan is interested in immuni,ation now and has gained considerable knowledge on various
vaccines and diseases they prevent$(Sometimes % even help health workers when they have a
problem convincing other parents$(
3e claimed that he shares this knowledge among his friends and has successfully convinced
many of them about the benefits of immuni,ing their children$
4oining the conversation A1) Kerolna Pyari Tirki with nearly three decades of e2perience said
that around "! years back Kothwa village which lies on the outskirts of Patna (population5
"4!!# had many reluctant families in the community and there were many misconception about
vaccination$




0ut with the combined efforts of committed health workers opinion leaders and village elders
.outine %mmuni,ation slowly gained acceptance$ She and her assistant 1utan Kumari proudly
asserted &Kothwa is a model village in the entire block6region and .% is a very smooth activity
here$(
She shared many success stories and incidents from the past wherein they convinced reluctant
families and converted partial .% cases into full immuni,ation ones$
A1) didi also introduced .adha 7evi mother of a three* year old child who had come for 48
immuni,ation$ She shared her e2perience on how AS3A and AWW didis had been in regular touch
with mothers like her including pregnant women of the village$

&They regularly check their immuni,ation cards and inform them about their ne2t due date as
being illiterate they find it challenging to understand the details themselves( .adha said$
After getting her child vaccinated for 48 .adha said that she feels sure that her son will not be
threatened by the dreaded disease which takes a heavy toll on the lives of young children in
0ihar and ad-oining districts of 9ttar Pradesh every year$