Over 50% children below three devoid of vital immunisation: NSSO survey

19 September 2006

Less than 50 per cent children up to the age of three years do not get the vital immunisation vaccinations in the country. Only 55 per cent children get vaccinated for measles, while 58 per cent children are immunised for diptheria pertussis and tetanus (DPT). Only 15 per cent children in the age group of 9 to 59 months receive the required dose of vitamin A in the country.

According to a survey on 'Well Being of Children and Women' conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 71 per cent children up to 35 months old get the bacillus calmette guerin (BCG) vaccination that aims at preventing the spread of tuberculosis among them. All hype apart, only 63.9 per cent of them get third dose of polio drops.

The findings of the survey conducted in 43 districts in 14 States paint an alarming state of vaccination programmes in the country. "At a time when the country is gearing up to immunise the children against hepatitis and typhoid, a lot needs to be done to ensure that routine but vital vaccinations reach all the children," a senior Ministry official said. The NSSO survey called 'Unicef Baseline Survey' was carried out during March-May 2005.

The survey covered 2,580 villages from 43 districts in 14 States, including AP, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, where Murshidabad, Purulia, and South 24-Pargana were covered. In these districts, over 70 per cent children get vaccinated for polio, BCG, DPT and measles.

"The 43 districts covered in the survey are the focal districts of the Government of India and UNICEF country programme of co-operation cycle of 2003-07. The survey aims at providing key indicators related to the well being of children and women," Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation GK Vasan said.

According to an estimate, around 26 million are born in the country yearly, 9 million more than China. As many as 1.5 million children die before getting a year old and 2.2 million children die before they get five. "A large number of deaths are due to the preventable diseases. About 30 per cent infants have low birth weight. Around 47 per cent children under five are malnourished," Vasan said.

The immunisation rate varies from district to district in different States. In Lalitpur and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh, only 5 per cent and 6.8 per cent children were immunised respectively. It was 5 per cent and 12 per cent in Gaya and Nalanda districts of Bihar respectively. None of 43 districts could boast of having immunised 100 per cent children except Tumkur district of Karnataka where 93 children in the age group of 12 to 35 months were vaccinated for BCG, DPT, measles and polio.

"It is no longer relevant to discuss the status of children and women in the country or even at the State level. One has to go down to the district level and understand the situation to make any meaningful intervention for an improvement in the situation of children and women," Vasan said.

Source: The Pioneer More

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