The district administration of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra has launched night vaccination drives in some areas where the tribal population return home only in the evening after a hard day’s labour. Earlier medical teams sent to these villages during the day had to return without doing their job as most of the people of the villages would be out for work and the team members ended up knocking at the doors of empty houses. To solve this problem, the administration decided to start night vaccination drives in these places, so that they fulfil the target of the Har Ghar Dastak program to take vaccination to people’s homes.
Indian Masterminds spoke to Gadchiroli District Magistrate, IAS Sanjay Meena, about this campaign and was informed that till now a total of 194 teams have been formed for vaccination in rural and tribal areas of the district, out of which 30 teams are for night vaccination. And a total of 15244 people were vaccinated at night. Of this, 8554 people got both the doses, while 6690 people got the first one.
REASON FOR NIGHT DRIVE
The district administration of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra conducted a survey to find out the reasons for low vaccination in some villages. IAS Sanjay Meena told Indian Masterminds what the survey brought to light:
“The main source of livelihood of the tribal population here is agriculture and forest. During the day, most of the people stay in fields and then go to the forests. So, vaccination campaign was started in such areas during the night. We are running door-to-door campaign in association with Zilla Parishad CEO. Although it is difficult to reach the villages in Maoist affected areas in the night and run this campaign, we are doing it so that every citizen gets vaccinated.”
Zilla Parishad CEO, IAS Kumar Ashirwad, informed that a survey in 100 villages of the district had revealed that there were about 23 reasons due to which vaccination was not being done in tribal areas.
“One reason was that it was the season for many crops, including paddy. Most of the people work in the fields during the day. Others go to the forest to collect forest produce. Hence, the villagers used to be away from home all day long,” he said.
VACCINATION AT NIGHT
In accordance with the plan, vaccination is being carried out in 124 remote villages in 12 talukas. Teams go door to door in villages and conduct the vaccinations. Mr. Kumar Ashirwad said that so far, the health team has successfully vaccinated 148 people in the remote Kopela village under the night vaccination program. To reach this village, the team had to undertake a difficult and risky journey. Yet, the dedicated members carried out their duties with utmost dedication to make the program a success.
“This campaign has really been a big help for the people of the village. They are very happy with our program as they are being provided vaccination facility right at their doorstep,” Mr. Ashirwad said, to drive home the point that their night vaccination initiative has been a big success.
