Al Jazeera English uncovers the state of Measles in India

Al Jazeera English uncovers the state of Measles in India

MUMBAI: India has one of the highest rates of measles in the world and one of the lowest rates of routine immunization, states International agencies. Nidhi Dutt, Correspondent, Al Jazeera English captures the state of Measles in India in a special news package.

 
India’s polio eradication campaign, led by the Government and its partners, including the World Health Organization, has been one of the biggest, most complex, and most meticulously implemented vaccination campaigns in human history. In March 2014, India was certified as polio free by the World Health Organisation. The government and global agencies are now trying to use the polio blue print to beat measles, an infection that threatens millions of children across the country.

 
Prevention is better than a cure, that’s the mantra the Indian government is using as it works to vaccinate hundreds of millions of children against infections like measles. Nidhi Dutt travels to one of the government routine vaccination drives where hundreds of millions of children are getting vaccinations against infections like measles.

 
Dr. Ajay Ghai, District Immunisation Officer says, “Our first target is to reduce morbidity. We are not at present targeting at eradication or elimination of measles”. Dr Genevieve Begkoyian, Chief of Health, Unicef India said, “We can save four thousand deaths a day in India with immunisation. One of the killers is measles.”

 
The news package showcases various campaigns that are running to vaccinate the children to protect them from the viral disease Measles.

 
Tune into Al Jazeera on Dish TV 618 and Tata Sky Channel 533 to catch the news package on July 5, 11.30 PM IST