Cricketer RP Singh launches ‘Nurturing Trees, Nurturing Lives’ campaign in city

Chandigarh, August 29, 2013: To spread awareness about the life saving vaccine offered as part of the Routine Immunisation (RI) programme, senior officials from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, alongwith cricket star RP Singh today kick started  ‘Nurturing Trees, Nurturing Lives’ ( NTNL) campaign with children .

Gurpreet Sapra, Special Secretary Health, Chandigarh, RP Singh and Harmeet Kahlon, Arjuna Awardee Golfer, joined the students in planting saplings on the ground of New Public School, Sector 18 here this morning.

In the campaign, the sapling is synonymous to a child who needs to be nurtured and protected against deadly diseases, just as the sapling needs to be watered and cared for to grow into a healthy tree.

Under RI, children are given life saving vaccines against 7 diseases, including polio. These vaccines are available free of cost at all health centres and are an absolute must to protect children against these deadly diseases.

The nationwide NTNL campaign was launched by Suresh Raina in Delhi on 24 February this year, on the first anniversary of India coming off the World Health Organization’s polio endemic list. The Adani Group has partnered in the NTNL campaign to promote RI, especially in the high risk states for polio.

Speaking during occasion, R P Singh said that the young generation has the potential to bring about a huge change. Their individual efforts would together make a big impact. Their joining hands for spreading awareness on routine immunisation would help save lives of children.”

Sapra said that child immunization was of utmost importance. You should spread awareness for this cause and ensure Routine immunisation for your children when you become parents, she remarked.

Dr. Rajiv Vadehra, Director Health Services, Chandigarh, Dr Soma Rani, Director Family Welfare Officer Chandigarh, Dr. G B Singh, Assistant Director (MCH and Immunization), Dr. Suresh Dalpath, Deputy Director Child Health and Immunization, Haryana, spoke about the importance of RI and how children can help create awareness about immunization.

Representatives from Adani, Aidmatrix Foundation, WHO and UNICEF were also present.

Nearly 1.6 million children under the age of 5 years die in India every year. A large number of these deaths can be prevented with these lifesaving vaccines. With India’s remarkable progress against polio this year, the polio eradication programme priorities have shifted to addressing polio associated risk factors to prevent poliovirus importation, the most important being boosting Routine Immunization coverage.

Over 800 educational institutions across the country are expected to participate in the year-long campaign. Around 300,000 saplings are to be planted by youth and children who would pledge to spread awareness on Routine Immunization vaccines and polio immunisation.