In desert drenched with rain, women walk with polio drops to remote areas

Jaisalmer: The tough geographical conditions in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts and the water logging created by rains from cyclone Biparjoy are obstacles that women health workers daily cross, for the past three days, so that little kids can be immunised against polio. Asha (accredited social health activist) sahayoginis (workers on contract) and nursing staff of the health department are going door to door in remote areas to administer polio drops to children up to 5 years of age. Health department officials said these women have to walk about 15 km every day.Barmer district coordinator for the polio vaccination, Rakesh Bhati, said that in a few villages there is still 1-2 feet of water in the fields, which the Asha workers have to cross to reach homes. An Asha worker, Meena, had to wade through water at Jaisindhar village carrying a box of polio vaccines to reach the homes of children. Another Asha worker, Fatima, was similarly facing a tough time in travelling through Navata Pataudi area.Bhati said that many Asha sahayoginis also have to cross sand dunes on foot to reach houses. They also have to cross over fencing on all four sides of farmed fields to make their way.District child health officer Mohinder Singh said that in border areas there was a danger of polio virus spreading from Pakistan, due to which this vaccination campaign was being carried out in 22 districts of Rajasthan.