The Rural Management Programme of Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi in collaboration with Karra Society for Rural Action (KSRA), organized a workshop on ‘System Strengthening and Community Mobilization for Enhancing Routine Immunization and Promoting Health, Nutrition, and Sanitation Behaviours in Selected Urban Slums of Ranchi.’

This initiative, supported by UNICEF Ranchi, emphasized the significance of routine immunization, Mother and Children Care, Community Mobilization, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) behaviour, and health system strengthening. The program was inaugurated by Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director, XISS, who highlighted the vital nature of the topic for human development, citing India’s position at 126th place in the Global Health Index and emphasizing the need for immunization. He also talked about the vaccine hesitation among the community.  

Dr Anant Kumar, Head of the Rural Management Programme, introduced the guests and briefed about the session objectives of the workshop. Mr Sadique Khan, Project Head, KSRA, discussed the initiative of KSRA to propagate the significance of WASH and Sanitation behaviours in society.

Dr Shubhangi Pandagare, representing UNICEF, stressed the importance of OPV and IPV for maternal and child health, highlighting India's ongoing challenge in achieving 100% immunization coverage, with Jharkhand currently standing at 90% coverage. She also stated that UNICEF is actively involved in 24 districts of Jharkhand to bolster routine immunization efforts, aiming to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in India.

The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Sanjay Kumar Verma, delivering closing remarks, emphasizing the key learnings and the critical role of health and sanitation behaviours in the urban slums of Ranchi. The workshop was attended by students of rural management, batch 2023-25.