Lagatar24 Network
Kolkata, Jan 24: On the occasion of National Girl Child Day on Monday (January 24), Save the Children, Bal Raksha, Bharat in collaboration with West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WNCPCR) had organised a COVID vaccination drive campaign for adolescent children specifically for girls aged 15-18 years at Kolkata Port Trust area, Ward-79.
The aim of this vaccination drive was to maximize awareness among communities, especially amidst the third wave of pandemic, to ensure protection to the adolescent population from COVID-19 and to vaccinate eligible girls and boys in the area.
As many parents from the locality were unable to accompany their wards to any vaccination centers, in order to balance livelihood. To them, this was an opportunity to access and avail the vaccination, at the doorstep and to ensure protection to their kids from COVID-19.
Inaugurating the campaign drive, Ananya Chakraborty, Chairperson, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) had mentioned that, “Today on the occasion of National Girls Child Day we are initiating the vaccination drive for the adolescent population in collaboration with Save the Children. As doctors also say, that vaccination is very crucial, because this will prevent one from any fatality even if the person might get the infection. So, WBCPCR, has taken this initiative with support from NGOS and Kolkata Municipal Corporation to vaccinate children in Kolkata and the greater Kolkata area.”
Welcoming the move from the Commission Susmita Guha, Senior Manager, Save the Children, West Bengal had mentioned; “Being confined at home, children have suffered most during the pandemic. Vaccination would provide them protection from viruses and bring them back to schools and playgrounds with friends again.”
The program was graced by Ananya Chakraborty, Chairperson- WBCPCR, Sudeshna Roy, Special Consultant- WBCPCR, Dr. Yasmin Akhtar, Medical Officer, (Health), KMC-Ward No: 79 and Ms. Piyali Sen, Assistant Manager- Child Poverty, Save the Chidlren, West Bengal along with adolescent boys and girls from Ward-79. Through this camp 19 adolescents were vaccinated to ensure protection from COVID-19.
About Save the Children:
Save the Children is one of the largest independent child rights organisations. The organisation is transforming the lives of millions of vulnerable children through targeted interventions on identified focus areas of Education, Health & Nutrition, Child Protection & Psychosocial, Poverty & Livelihood and Humanitarian response.
Having embarked on an independent journey in India since 2008, as ‘Bal Raksha Bharat’, we have touched the lives of over 10 million children in the past 13 years. The organisation has been working towards creating an enabling environment for the children in West Bengal for the past many years.
