Wayanad touches 92 per cent in MR vaccination campaign

KOZHIKODE: Wayanad and Kasargod  districts have achieved 92 percent  and 90 percent results respectively  in the measles rubella (MR) vaccination campaign as on November 29, though  the going was tough in Malabar.    The districts are also likely to achieve the target of 95 per cent.   Wayanad, the agrarian district, has the least number of targeted population in Malabar--  2.02 lakh children. "Wayanad is a hot spot of anti-vaccination propaganda after Malappuram and Kozhikode. But we tried multiple strategies to overcome the hurdles," says Dr   V. Jithesh, district medical officer. 

"It is not wise to speak science to reluctant parents.  We  selected people who are good communicators and who can communicate in the same style with  the receivers. They included  doctors, health inspectors, nurses, teachers and other volunteers,"  he said.  District nodal officer of the campaign, Dr P.  Dinish said  that they had given a free hand to the medical officers concerned to chalk out strategies.

"For the resistant areas, a four-member group comprising  DMO, NRHM programme manager Dr B. Abhilash, Dr Ajayan and myself directly went there and spoke to them after dividing them into small groups," he said. One-to-one discussions with them cleared several  doubts. The campaign was close to 100 per cent in tribal areas. 

Kasargod DMO  Dr A.P. Dinesh Kumar said that they had to visit certain pockets seven times. "The district collector provided wholehearted support. Focused work in the resistant areas produced  results," he said. Both the districts proved wrong  the theory,  'Muslim-against-vaccination,'  as Kasargod has 38 percent  and Wayand  29  percent Muslim population.