Launches book titled, ‘Aii – The journey so far 2014’
The Alliance for Immunization in India (Aii), a Civil Society Organization (CSO) platform for strengthening immunisation programme in India, celebrated its first anniversary recently at the India Habitat Centre, in New Delhi.To commemorate the day, the Alliance and its CSO members organised the release of a book titled ‘Aii- The journey so far 2014’ on the journey of the Aii in the past one year. The book included the various field level activities undertaken by its members to spread awareness about the importance of routine immunisation (RI) across their respective areas of work.
Health experts and heads of leading development and international organisations, including Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO of GAVI; Dirk Gehl, Sr Country Manager GAVI; Dr Naveen Thacker, GAVI Alternate Board Member; Dr Roma Solomon, Director, CORE Polio; Dr Jacob John, Health Expert; Dr Tony Castleman, CRS Country Director were at the event.
Gupta said, “Aii can serve as an integrated service delivery platform for health in the country. We need to look at ensuring all vaccines for all children.” She further stressed that Aii must focus on pockets with low immunisation coverage within the state.
Gehl said, “CSOs in India have come a long way, not just in terms of providing services but also in terms of being heard by the government and decision makers.”
The event was attended by representatives of various organisations working on child health issues, with a special focus on routine immunisation. The gathering comprised state level CSOs and technical experts from Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Representatives of GAVI CSO platform in Bangladesh were also present. The group shared their experiences on strengthening routine immunisation in Bangladesh. Some other sessions during the day focussed on the update on Aii by Dr Bhupendra Tripathi (Aii Chairperson), update on Health System Strengthening by Dr Ambujam Kapoor Nair (PHFI-ITSU), and Role of CSOs by Monica Chaturvedi (PHFI-ITSU).