Nuh Muslim families duck immunisation

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

Owing to misgivings among Muslims that vaccination is a birth-control measure, the health authorities in Nuh district are finding immunisation of children before August 15 a daunting task. The task has been assigned under the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.

Nuh is among the 115 “aspirational districts” identified by Niti Aayog across the country where the Centre wants 100 per cent target achieved for seven national programmes. The Centre wants all 299 villages in the district covered by August 15.

One of these programmes is Mission Indradhanush, involving immunisation of children with seven vaccines. The other programmes are Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojna, Saubhagya Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, Ujala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna.

The health authorities in Nuh district have not been able to cover nearly 60 per cent of children, largely because the Muslim population is sceptical about vaccination of children, suspecting it to be a birth-control measure. More than 90 per cent children have been covered for vaccinations in other districts.

Sources said the issue had cropped up during a recent meeting of administrative secretaries of various departments involved in the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan called by Chief Secretary DS Dhesi.

A doctor associated with the programme said on the condition of anonymity that they had to confront hostile men and women whenever they had gone to Mewat villages for immunisation of children.

“The people there are not ready to listen to us despite our best efforts to convince them that vaccines are in the best interests of children,” he said.

Younus Alvi, a former zila parishad member from Nuh district, said rumours had been spread on social media last year that vaccination of children was a ploy of the government to limit the Muslim population.

He said only around 20 per cent children had been immunised last year, but the rate was slightly better this time around.

“When rumours spread last year after messages went viral on WhatsApp groups in Kerala, maulvis and ulemas worked overtime in Mewat to educate the people that their doubts were misplaced. Things have improved since then and many people have opted for immunisation this year,” he added.

Alvi further said the misgivings about vaccination being a birth-control measure were not the only reason for lack of interest among people in Mewat. He pointed out that many had resisted the drive because of reaction to vaccines in the past.

RR Jowel, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department, admitted that results of the immunisation drive were poor in Nuh district “Several factors were responsible for this. He cited shortage of doctors and paramedics in Nuh as one of the major reasons.

“We have covered 64 per cent children in Nuh so far while the figure is over 95 per cent in other districts. We hope that our efforts will start bearing fruit once Ramzan ends later this month,” he said.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2JgL7ER