Rotary signs MoU with GoI for fight against measles, rubella

An MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Health and Family ­Welfare and the India National PolioPlus ­Committee (INPPC) for ­Rotarians’ ­involvement and ­participation in the GoI’s routine ­immunisation project, including ­Mission Indradhanush (MI), ­Intensified ­Mission Indradhanush and Elimination of Measles and Rubella on Dec 6. The MoU was signed in the office of Health and Family Welfare ­Minister J P Nadda by Joint Health Secretary ­Vandana ­Gurnani and PDG Deepak Kapur, ­Chairman INPPC, on behalf of Rotary.

Health Minister Nadda thanked Past RI President Rajendra K Saboo, who was ­present at the MoU signing, and Rotary, for the ­support and commitment ­provided by the Rotary fraternity in India over the past four decades in helping the country get rid of the scourge of polio. As also, their ­support in many other social causes and ­initiatives. Additional Health Secretary Manoj Jhalani was also present during the signing of the MoU.

The Minister was certain that Rotary would once again rise to the occasion and use the ­inherent strength of its member volunteers to assist the Government in addressing the ­challenges posed by measles, rubella and other diseases against which vaccines are ­available. The ambitious goal is to achieve a 90 per cent immunisation target by 2020.

This MoU has fructified after several meetings senior Rotary leaders in India held to consider strategies for the elimination of ­Measles and Rubella (MR) in the country. In the meetings, RI Director C Basker, PRIP Saboo, PRIP Kalyan Banerjee, TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta and Dr Jacob John had discussed partnering with the ­government in its target of ­eliminating MR by 2020. They felt that now India was ­polio-free, it was time to focus on the “Plus” component of ­“PolioPlus” and ­participate in ­vaccination programmes to prevent measles, rubella and other diseases, while ­continuing polio immunisation to ensure India remains polio-free.

Earlier, when PRIP Kalyan Banerjee was ­Trustee Chair of The Rotary Foundation, in consultation with PRIP Saboo, Dr Jacob John and PDG Kapur, he had got the support of TRF ­Trustees and RI ­PolioPlus Committee Chair Mike McGovern for Rotary’s participation in MI in India.

Said Kapur, “This is the beginning of a new challenge. We ­Rotarians of India will have to recharge our spirit and re-energise ourselves for the action ahead… just as we had done during the polio eradication ­campaign. Our goal is now to keep India ­polio-free and ­eradicate Measles/Rubella in partnership with the government.”

PRIP Saboo said the challenge now will be getting a similar level of involvement and ­enthusiasm Rotarians had during the polio ­eradication phase. Because “an important aspect of this partnership is that it is an extension of our commitment to keep India polio-free.”

But of course ­Rotary’s involvement this time would have to be more focussed on the two areas of rubella and ­measles. But I am ­encouraged in the ­expectation that we can do it thanks to the support from RI Director C Basker.”