Fall 2006 Issue
Sewing Machines Used to Fight Polio in India
What would you do for a chance to win a brand new sewing machine? If you were a parent in India, you might line your children up to receive polio immunizations.
This was the idea behind a recent innovation to improve immunization coverage in Moradabad, India, sponsored by the CDC Foundation.
”Vaccinators and supervisors had conducted numerous immunization campaigns and fatigue was a real risk,” says CDC public health advisor Julie Jenks. “So we decided to try to generate some excitement about the campaign in the community and among our vaccination teams.”
Two “outstanding” supervisors in each of Moradabad’s 22 planning areas received wrist watches provided by Rotary International, and a total of 66 outstanding vaccinators received sewing machines. The sewing machines were purchased through the CDC Foundation’s Global Health Priorities Endowment.
“Local vaccinators and supervisors receive only a small per diem of about $1 per day,” says Jenks. “The incentives really energized them to vaccinate every child.”
In addition, families in which all children were immunized were entered into a “lucky drawing” to receive a sewing machine. The 132 winning families were recognized at a ceremony at the conclusion of the campaign. More than 500 people attended the ceremony which received significant local media coverage.
“This small expenditure made possible through the CDC Foundation made a big difference in the success of this campaign,” says Jenks. “We hope to learn from this pilot project and selectively use incentives in difficult areas.”
In the last two decades, global immunization teams have made significant progress toward eradicating polio, a disease that causes disability and death among children around the world. Due to funding gaps, political obstacles and security issues, stubborn pockets of the disease remain.
The CDC Foundation’s Endowment for Global Health Priorities was created in 1999 to provide critical flexible funding to CDC teams combating polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2005, the endowment was expanded to include support for other CDC global health programs.
You can help. For a limited time, all first-time gifts to the endowment will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total of $10,000, thanks to a generous gift from a group of CDC Foundation donors. To make a gift to this important fund, contact Melody Travis at 404.653.0790 or mtravis1@cdc.gov.