Madhya Pradesh, May 30, 2023: The Momentum Routine Immunization project, in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh,successfully conducted an enlightening “Learning and Experience Sharing Workshop”in the esteemed presence of Dr.Prabhuram Choudhary, the Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh. During the event, Dr. Choudhary unveiled the coffee table book that chronicles captivating photo stories featuring community champions who played a pivotal role in the project’s success.The workshop acknowledged the invaluable contribution of the project and its local partners – MPVHA,ASRA,Helpage India, TCI Foundation.
The experience-sharingevent also saw the presence of distinguished guests, including Ms. Priyanka Das (IAS), Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Dr. Santosh Shukla, Director of Immunization at NHM, and several esteemed state government officials. Beneficiaries and influential members of the community, who have directly benefited from the project, also had the opportunity to share their invaluable experiences.
“The global pandemic impacted communities worldwide but more so the marginalized communities. Added to this was the challenge of vaccine hesitancy in the rural areas arising out of a lack of clarity on the after-effects of the vaccine. The state teams engaged with local community members and non-governmental organizations and identified women leaders from the communities to maximize reach amongst the priority groups.Women healthcare workers and lactating mothers as vaccine champions went door-to-door to speak about the benefits of getting vaccinated and to dispel misinformation”, shared Ms. Priyanka Das, MD, NHM, MP
Dr. Santosh Shukla, State Immunization Officer, MP highlighting the collaborative efforts of the MP State government and the project shared, “The COVID-19 vaccination drive in Madhya Pradesh witnessed remarkable dedication from vaccinators who pushed their limits to ensure that high-risk and underserved communities receive the vaccination. In a collaborative effort, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, in association with the project, sought the assistance of Saathiya volunteers comprising teenagers aged between 10 and 19 years in spreading pro-vaccine messaging and working towards increasing vaccine uptake, especially among the tribal groups of the state.”
Dr.G.K. Soni, Project Director, Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation & Equity Project, “Through this collaborative initiative, we achieved significant milestones in COVID-19 vaccination, ensuring that vulnerable populations in Madhya Pradesh are vaccinated. By leveraging innovative strategies and community engagement efforts, the project remains committed to building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive immunization program that will continue to benefit the communities we serve for years to come. We are thankful to the MP State Government and USAID for providing the opportunity to complement the efforts of the state government on COVID-19 vaccination.” The Project engaged with local non-government organizations such as Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association, Aasra, TCI Foundation, and HelpAge India to build vaccine confidence amongst target groups. The project also tackled vaccine-related myths prevalent amongst the elderly community. Concerns about severe side effects were debunked through targeted strategies, fostering confidence and trust in the efficacy of the vaccine against COVID-19.