Health workers’ additional strides behind Uttar Pradesh’s vaccination milestone

LUCKNOW: While UP is already on top when it comes to total number of doses administered, it became the only state in the country to have more than 10 crore partially vaccinated people on Wednesday. As per data from the Cowin portal, the total number of partially vaccinated persons in UP reached 10.01 crore till 6 pm.
A key factor in UP’s effort to boost Covid-19 vaccination is unmatched commitment of those in the field, especially in farflung areas of the state.

Meet Archana and Karishma, the ANMs posted in Mahasi village under the Tambaur Community Health Centre of Sitapur district. The two courageous frontline workers undertook extensive awareness drives in households allotted to them. They also worked hard to ensure that all kinds of myths and rumours around vaccination were quelled.
“They remained committed to their work despite unfavourable conditions including flood in surrounding villages. On one sunny day, with floodwater at the feet, both ANMs collected the vaccine vials from Sirsira primary health center, went to Mahasi village and vaccinated around 40 people in the 45 plus category,” recalled Dr Sanjay Kumar, medical officer in-charge at CHC Tambaur.
Block community process manager, Poonam Verma was pleasantly surprised by the exemplary zeal displayed by the two women. “When we asked them why they risked their life in the flooded area, they told us that no one is safe till every eligible one is vaccinated,” she said.
The sentiment is shared by people across various levels. In Mirpur, a backward block in UP’s farthest district Sonbhadra, acquiring Covid-19 infection from the vaccine was the biggest fear of many in about 100 villages. The locals were so scared that they ran away upon seeing health workers approaching. Medical officer Dr Shishir Srivastava was quick to realise that an intensified campaign to dispel misinformation was needed. But considering the terrain of the region, available resources were not enough.
Accordingly, he mobilised the support of companies in Renukoot to organise localised awareness activities such as street plays, puppet shows, munadi, miking besides holding meetings with men, women and community to bust the myths.
The efforts translated into a six-fold increase in the number of vaccinations. In all, 47 sessions of vaccination were held in which 8,497 persons were inoculated.
Health officials said that the two cases exemplify the kind of effort which is being put in to make UP achieve milestones one after another.
“Everything is in place when it comes to the vaccination campaign in UP. The right strategy, a trained and motivated workforce, leadership, monitoring and feedback mechanism and proper coordination between all stakeholders,” said Dr Praful Bharadwaj, health officer, Unicef UP and member, UP State Task Force on Covid-19 vaccination.
With eyes set on boosting the second dose coverage, the state health department is on a mission to re-energise the workforce.
“The team has worked against all odds over the past few months. The focus is now being shifted to the second dose coverage for which the ‘har ghar dastak’ campaign has been launched ” said Dr Manoj Shukla, general manager, immunisation, National Health Mission, UP.