Immunisation camps organised by non-profit in Mumbai slums to raise awareness

Mumbai, India: Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), a Mumbai-based NGO helping transform the lives of women and children in vulnerable communities, has been working to increase child immunisation for many years. To commemorate World Immunisation Week, it will be conducting a series of awareness sessions on immunisation in Mumbai slums. These camps and sessions are being organized by the NGO between 22nd – 26th April with the aim to reach more than 1900 community members.

The NGO will be working with the Government’s frontline healthcare workers to organise immunisation camps as well as Health talk sessions in vulnerable informal slum settlements at Bhiwandi, Dharavi, Mankhurd and Govandi. Aside from these, the NGO will also be conducting sessions on child immunisation as well as have Information stalls for the benefit of parents in these settlements. With the aim of raising immunisation and healthcare awareness among community members, the NGO will be conducting similar activities in other areas of Mumbai throughout the year.

Speaking on the initiative, Vanessa D’Souza, CEO, SNEHA said, “Most community members in urban poor areas are well aware about immunisation. But due to certain myths and misconceptions, they lack the understanding of the importance of immunisation as well as the immunisation schedule, to ensure full coverage for their child. SNEHA has been at the forefront of raising awareness on immunisation and being a trustworthy partner, helping the community get the right knowledge as well as vaccinations, at the appropriate time. As we celebrate World Immunisation Week, we are renewing our efforts even further by reaching out to them through our volunteers with guidance from healthcare professionals.”

Between 2016-23, SNEHA has helped 76% of children (in the age group of 12-23 months) in the areas where they work to receive full immunisation for vaccine preventable diseases. The NGO has been able to achieve this through its flagship Maternal & Child Health programs in Mumbai and Thane. Overall, SNEHA has impacted the lives of more than 4 lakh women, children and families over the past 2 decades. As the organization completes 25 years since its foundation, it is looking to widen its reach in Mumbai and impact the lives of more than 1 lakh women and children this year.