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Children on the move to help fight polio

© UNICEF India/2004/Monde

Shailendra, a young volunteer in the polio campaign, on his way to the immunization booth with some of the children.

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BHOPAL, Madhya Pradesh State, India, 28 October 2004 - For the first time in India, children have become campaigners in the fight against polio.

In Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state, 10 October was designated 'Polio Sunday'. On that day vaccination was available for children, at temporary booths in the center of town.

In the heat of the day, a group of youngsters stood out like beacons. The two boys and three girls all wore bright yellow t-shirts emblazoned with polio campaign slogans and autographs from Indian cricket players. Moving from door to door, they quickly became the centre of attraction in this small community.

People began to emerge from their houses - at first wary, then curious. Children gathered around the young campaigners while parents and grandparents looked on. The youngsters spread out, each talking to a different group of people about the need for immunization. Eventually all five youngsters started out for the vaccination booths, each leading a group of young children.

© UNICEF India/2004/Monde

Rashmi, another volunteer in the campaign.

The five campaigners - Rashmi, Vidhi, Bindiya, Bhagwandin and Shailendra - are among 50 young people who have volunteered for the 'youth brigade for children', in order to support the efforts of the state government and UNICEF to eradicate polio. These five young people share the dream of one day becoming civil servants.

They hadn't given much thought to the fight against polio, until a recent visit to their college by a UNICEF team. At the end of the talk, when asked if they would like to help UNICEF achieve total polio eradication, they jumped at the chance. "We were given an opportunity to help, and we are proud to be able to make a difference in the lives of young children," said Rashmi, one of the volunteers.

Before they ventured out on Polio Sunday at 8 a.m., they were briefed by UNICEF officers. Each student then set off, hoping to bring at least 10 children willing to be vaccinated to the booth.

Polio worker Kiran Parihar noted that this drive was particularly successful. "It is really difficult to get people come to the booths. They prefer to stay home and get their children immunized during door-to-door mop-ups over the next two days."

These young volunteers are helping to save children in their own country from the ravages of polio, and are doing their bit in the worldwide campaign to eradicate the disease.