This article is excerpted from the March 2007 edition of the India Communication Update. This update is produced monthly by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) India in consultation with partners and is circulated by email. Its purpose is to provide stakeholders with a concise update on strategic developments in the communication effort for polio eradication in India, in response to the fast evolving epidemiological situation in the country.



Meerut is a particularly high-risk sub-region of Uttar Pradesh, one of the few polio endemic states left in India. As a result of innovative community mobilisation strategies, Meerut has seen the lowest number of resistant households (or households refusing to immunise eligible children) in several years. The following innovations were introduced in order to involve wider community participation:

1. Three groups with distinct roles as influencers were formed to participate in 3 days of house-to-house activity to tackle resistance or refusal:
   
   • A team of 35 Urdu teachers.
   • A team of 24 ration shop owners.
   • Hajis (people who have performed Haj) included in teams.

   
   

2. Through the school district 2,500 primary schools in the sub-region were approached on Republic Day to increase the number of children participating on immunisation booth day.




3. Increase in the number of participating mosques and madarsas from 61% in January 2007 to 74% in February 2007.




4. Regular meetings with mothers- and daughters-in law organised by the district administration of Meerut to discuss polio and child health and hygiene issues.




5. Publication of a booklet of compiled poetry on polio written by local influential poets, which has boosted the morale of polio workers and served as an effective advocacy tool at the local level.

The success of these initiatives is seen as the result of an open and ongoing dialogue between the district administration and polio partners within these underserved communities.