Attitudes affect pulse polio drive

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" times="" new="" roman="" class="author">SOURAV SANYAL</span><br />CHANDIGARH: It''s a case of the classic north-south divide. Experts studying the pattern of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation programme in Chandigarh earlier this year say that people staying in the posh northern sectors of the city are not forthcoming enough to get their children vaccinated at the immunisation booths set up by the government.<br />More than anything else, the driving factor behind the reluctance to take their children to the nearest government set up for the polio vaccine drops is that parents of children below five years of age living in the northern sectors consider it below their dignity to ''rub'' shoulders with ''lesser mortals'' - domestic helps, chauffeurs and maid servants who incidentally might land up at the same booth to get their children vaccinated.<br />Blaming "upmarket mindset" of those residing in the northern sectors, Rajesh Kumar Aggarwal, research officer, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, who submitted a report titled ''Process Evaluation of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme in Chandigarh (2001-2002)'' to the department of family welfare, ministry of health and family welfare, says, "The problem lies in the mindset of the people.Going by the findings, it becomes amply clear that the booths where less than 50, between 50 and 100 and less than 150 children were vaccinated, are mostly located in the northern sectors.<br />Though one reason is that the larger share of the elderly population of the city resides in these sectors whose children are settled abroad, it is also true at the same time that even those who stay there feel it lowers their social standing in a way if they approach the governmental setup for vaccination. They prefer going to the private sector instead."<br />This, however,might pose problems for the children, he says. "It is unfortunate that people look down upon the governmental efforts in this direction. What often happens in the private sector is that for vaccinating a child, the vial is opened and after administering the dose to the child, the remaining portion is stored in the refrigerator. Subsequently, it is administered to another child. However, the practice in the governmental sector is better in this respect. The vial is opened on the first day of IPPI and even if the entire quantity is not used up, the remaining portion, instead of being stored, is destroyed," explains Aggarwal.<br />Further, the report stresses on the need of instituting a study in Chandigarh to identify the target group.<br />"Data pertaining to the presence of target group (children below five years) is not readily available. Survey of the target group is a must if the immunisation programme has to succeed," he adds. </div> </div>