Transformational story of frontline health fighter

 Immunization is essential for both Pregnant women and child survival and in ensuring the safety from several life-threatening diseases. Behind the success of Mission Indradhanush programs, several tireless efforts of thousands of unsung heroes in the form of frontline Health fighters.  

Nilu Kumari, 37 yrs old. she is a mother and an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) dedicated to serving the needs of her community in the Bandarkuppi Panchyat of Sadar Block in Giridih district of Jharkhand. During the Mission Indradhanush programs, she has been given the responsibility to administer vaccines in Akdoni Khurd Panchayat of Matrukha and Barmoriya villages of Sadar block which was a new place for her work. 

 Her assigned work location was extremely remote with poor transportation services and bare road access to a host of regions. In spite of all the odds, she makes a proper plan day before her work and conducts the review meeting after completing the tasks with the Sahiya/AWW. Her main strategy is to make a phone call with all the concerned Sahiya/AWW and discuss the update of the survey and duellist.  

In many instances, some people refuse to immunize their children due to the fear of death or health concerns. Nilu Kumari, herself visited the houses and counsel the mother about why vaccination was important for the health of her child.  ANM Nilu had the advantage to speak in the local dialect, which helped her to explain that a mild fever can sometimes happen after vaccination and but it is usually not serious and there was nothing to worry about. 

The immunization drives under Mission Indradhanush would not have been successful without the zeal and passion of dedicated frontline health warriors like Nilu Kumari. Her active involvement and constant support paid off as per the survey duelist she has completed the immunization coverage of 80 percent in the 2nd phase of IMI alone and due to that Sadar Block coverage has been increased. 

She woke up early in the morning and does all the household work, prepare food for the family and then get ready and reached her work location as early as possible. she says that none of the children should miss out on the basic vaccination in the village. Apart, she proudly says every assigned workplace become her “home away from home”.