55,000 doses of Rubella vaccine

Impact India Foundation has received yet another very large donation of Humanitarian Aid from AmeriCares, U.S.A. - this time 55,000 doses of Rubella vaccine specially produced by Merck, USA, valued at about Rs 5.17 crores (US $ 1.1 million), for the tribal belt of Thane District where there is much prevalence of Rubella. In addition to this generous gift, AmeriCares India has also donated 55,000 syringes to enable immunization to be implemented as soon as possible.

Rubella is a contagious viral illness that leads to numerous long-term disabilities. It is specially dangerous for infected pregnant women almost inevitably resulting in mental retardation, stunted growth and other disabilities, and the child at birth becomes a life-long cripple. Children when infected can often suffer some disability and for that reason Rubella vaccine is an integral part of the immunization programme in all developed countries. This donation from AmeriCares will now bring much-needed care to a population with limited access to quality health care.

It may be recalled that in September last year, AmeriCares a non-profit humanitarian aid organization in the USA, took quick action in the wake of the devastating floods in Mumbai, and air freighted essential medicines and water purification sachets, valued at Rs 70.5 crores (US $ 15 million), to Impact for the affected people in the city and surrounding areas. The distribution and evaluation of its usefulness was closely monitored by an independent agency appointed by Impact India.

“Impact, which has been very active in Maharashtra, continues to vigorously pursue its mission of health for the rural people through its ongoing Community Health Initiative in Thane District covering nearly 1.5 million tribal poor in Palghar, Dahanu, Talaseri, Jawhar, Mokhada, Vikramgadh and Wada. Impact seeks to lend its professional skills to the Government’s National health programmes in order to establish replicable projects for others to follow.” said Mr A.H. Tobaccowala, Chairman, Impact India Foundation.