Free Blood Transfusion for Thalessamia patients

Free Blood Transfusion Center is run at Deep Children Hospital and Research Center with support of Child Health Foundation. About 7 patients are registered till date. Around 64 blood transfusions were done free of cost last year.

CHF INCLEN Vaccinology Courses

FCRA prior permission for funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was received from Ministry of Home Affairs. Planning and Scientific Committee meeting was held in October 2015 and Selection committee meeting was held in February. The venue selection, participant selection, course planning, faculty selection is already done for ADVAC 2016. Planning for BVAC is being done.

Workshops on “Harnessing Power of Immunization: Opportunities & Challenges for New Vaccines”

Child Health Foundation in partnership with Global Health Strategies (GHS) and International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) at John Hopkins Bloomberg University of Public Health planned a series of workshops named "Harnessing Power of Immunization: Opportunities & Challenges for New Vaccines" for the pediatric and public health community.The objective was to train them on evidence, program, media engagement and advocacy activities involved in new vaccine introduction. These workshops with participants from private & government sector were conducted in five regions of India, namely, Gandhinagar, Gujarat(West Zone)), Kolkata, West Bengal(East Zone)), Kochi, Kerala (South Zone), Indore, Madhya Pradesh (Central Zone), Chandigarh (North Zone). The first two workshops of the series were successfully conducted on 15th – 16th November 2014 at Gandhinagar and 14th – 15th March 2015 at Kolkata. The details of workshops conducted this year are as below:

25- 26th April, 2015: Kochi, Kerala

The third workshop in the series was held at Hotel IMA House, Palarivattom, Kochi on 25th & 26th April, 2015. The workshop was co-hosted by Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Kochi Branch. The workshop was attended by 55 participants from the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Opening remarks were given by Dr. Raj Ghosh from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr Manish Patel from CDC Task Force for Child Survival, Andrea Sutherland, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr Deep Thacker from Child Health Foundation. Mr. Kaushik Bose, Ms. Natasha Godinho, Mr Anant Zanane& Ms. Sonya Soni from Global Health Strategies also attended the workshop. Dr. T Jacob John and Dr. Deep Thacker were present on behalf of Child Health Foundation. Dr. Jacob John from CMC Vellore (Rotavirus),Dr. Jyoti Joshi Jain and Dr. Deepak Polpakara from AEFI Secretariat, ITSU were the faculties from partner organizations. Dr. Sachidanand Kamath (President IAP 2015) and Dr. Narayana M (President IAP Kochi) also participated in the workshop. A visit to the District General Hospital was also arranged for Dr Andrea Sutherland and Ms Margaret Miller.The agenda for the workshop was similar to that of the previous workshop.

20th & 21st June, 2015: Indore, Madhya Pradesh

The fourth workshop in the series was held at Hotel Sayaji, Indore on 20th & 21st June, 2015. The workshop was attended by 47participants from the states ofMadhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Dr. Raj Ghosh represented Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Andrea Sutherland and Ms. Margaret Miller from IVAC, JSPH were also present throughout the workshop. Ms Sushma Kapoor, Dr. Amandeep Singh, Mr AnantZanane and Ms ManasiMithel from Global Health Strategies also attended the workshop. Dr. T Jacob John, Dr. Panna Choudhury, Dr Naveen Thacker and Dr. Deep Thacker were present on behalf of Child Health Foundation. Dr. Gagandeep Kang from CMC Vellore (Rotavirus), Dr. Satish Gupta from UNICEF (Measles Rubella Elimination), Dr. Deepak Polpakara and Dr AjitShewale from AEFI Secretariat, ITSU were the faculties from partner organizations. Dr Andrea, Ms Margaret and Dr Raj Ghosh accompanied by Child Health Foundation members visited R D Gardi Medical College at Ujjain.

22nd & 23rd August, 2015: Chandigarh

The last and fifth workshop in the series was held at Hotel Taj Chandigarh, on 22nd& 23rd August, 2015. The workshop was attended by 45 participants from the states ofJammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Delhi. Dr. Pradeep Haldar, Dy Director, Immunization, represented MOHFW, Dr. Raj Ghosh represented Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,Dr. Andrea Sutherland and Ms. Molly Sauer represented IVAC, JSPH, Dr Niraj Rathi, Dr Ananth Balaji and Dr Vivek Ahuja from PATH were also present for the workshop. Mr. Amandeep Singh, Mr Anant Zanane, Ms Natasha Godinho & Ms. Mansi Mitthel from Global Health Strategies also attended the workshop. Dr. T Jacob John and Dr. Deep Thacker were present on behalf of Child Health Foundation. Dr. Anis Siddique from UNICEF(IPV Introduction – Communication Challenges), Dr. Satish Gupta from UNICEF (Measles Rubella Elimination), Dr. Ajit Shewale and Dr. Deepak Polpakara from AEFI Secretariat and Dr Monica Chaturvedi from ITSU were the faculties from partner organizations.

Technical consultation on “Polio End Game in India: Critical Role of Medical Professionals” supported by Global Health Strategies

Child Health Foundation in partnership with International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Global Health Strategies and Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Uttar Pradesh State Branch organized a technical consultative meet of medical professionals who have worked dedicatedly for polio eradication and who would again have to play an important role in the endgame strategy and IPV introduction. The technical consultative meet was conducted on 2nd August 2015, at Hotel Taj, Lucknow.

Chief Guest for Inaugural function was Shri Ahmed Hassan, Hon. Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Pradeep Haldar, Deputy Commissioner (Immunization) MOHFW, GOI ; Dr. Sachidanand Kamath, President - Indian Academy of Pediatrics; Dr. V N Tripathi - Director General Medical Education, Uttar Pradesh were Guests of Honour.

Other dignitaries present were Dr. S Manazir Ali - President, Academy of Pediatrics, Uttar Pradesh; Dr. SAS Yadav - Chief Medical Officer, Lucknow; Dr.Anisur Rahman Siddique - from UNICEF; Dr. Arindam Ray - from BMGF. Faculties included were Dr. T Jacob John, Dr. Naveen Thacker, Dr.Vipin M Vashishtha. The meeting was attended by 60 people from various organizations like IAP, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, UNICEF, NPSP. The meeting was covered by print and electronic media - K TV and E TV. The audiences were briefed about - Polio Endgame Strategy, Plan in India, Communications plan in India.

It was decided that the pediatricians should give out a common message to the patients as well as community.

1. One dose of IPV at OPV 3 and only below one year of age is mainly for health workers but other audience is OK

2. Double protection from Polio - OPV + IPV These messages to be conveyed at all opportunity.

Technical consultation on “Polio End Game in India: Critical Role of Medical Professionals” supported by UNICEF India

Child Health Foundation in partnership with UNICEF India and Indian Academy of Pediatrics organized a series of technical consultative meet of medical professionals who have worked dedicatedly for Polio Eradication and who would again have to play an important role in the Endgame Strategy and IPV introduction.

20th September, 2015- Noida, Uttar Pradesh

The first Technical consultative meet was conducted on 20th September 2015, at Hotel Holiday Inn New Delhi, Mayur Vihar, Noida. Faculties included were Dr. T Jacob John, Dr Anisur Rahman- UNICEF, Dr. Naveen Thacker, Dr.Vipin M Vashishtha, Dr Pravin Mehta- IAP, Ms JoshillaPallapati from UNICEF was also present. The CHF trustees were also present for the meeting.The meeting was attended by 45 participants from various organizations like IAP, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, UNICEF and NPSP. The audiences were briefed about - Polio Endgame Strategy, Plan in India, Communications plan in India.

Meeting was an Eye Opener as it was realized lot of work and awareness is needed for End Game amongst medical practitioners, decision makers and need to educate community.

25th October 2015- Hyderabad, Telangana

The second meeting of the series was held at Hotel Hyatt Gachibowli, Hyderabad on 25th October 2015. The meeting was attended by 43 participants from various organizations like IAP, UNICEF, NPSP members of states Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were present. Also participants from Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were also present.

Faculties included were Dr T Jacob John, Dr Anisur Rahman and Dr Naveen Thacker. Dr. Shanmughan, a pediatrician from Erode, Tamil Nadu stated that by this meeting he is enlightened about the need for IPV and the introduction of bivalent OPV in April 2016. He really got benefited by the program and started spreading the message to his fellow consultants and his pediatric postgraduate students at their hospital.

1st November 2015- Jaipur, Rajasthan

The third meeting was held at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur on 1st November, 2015. The meeting was attended by 52 participants from various organizations like IAP, UNICEF, NPSP members of states Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi were present. Faculties included were Dr T Jacob John, Dr Anisur Rahman and Dr Naveen Thacker.

Dr. Avinash Bansal and Dr Amrit Bairwa , pediatricians from Rajasthan stated that the meet was very fruitful and beneficial.

21st November 2015- Guwahati, Assam

The fourth meeting was held at Hotel Ginger, Guwahati on 21st November, 2015. The meeting was attended by 43 participants from various organizations like IAP, UNICEF, NPSP members of states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya were present. Faculties included were Dr T Jacob John, Dr Anisur Rahman and Dr A P Dubey and Dr Pradeep Haldar.

29th November 2015- Patna, Bihar

The fifth meeting was held at Hotel Maurya, Patna, Bihar on 29th November 2015. The meeting was attended by 41 participants from various organizations like IAP, UNICEF, NPSP members of the states Bihar and Jharkhand were present. Faculties included were Dr T Jacob John, Dr Vipin M Vashishtha and Dr Anisur Rahman.

6th March 2016- Kolkata, West Bengal

The 6th meeting on Polio Endgame and IPV Introduction: Critical Role of MedicalProfessionals was held at Gateway Hotel, EM Bypass Road, Kolkata on 6th March 2016. The meeting was attended by 55 participants from across West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. The participants included office bearers of state and district/city branches of IAP. Dr. Pradeep Haldar, Dr. T Jacob John, Dr. Anisur Rahman Siddique and Dr. Vipin M Vashishtha were the faculties for the workshop. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Monisha Choudhury (Vice Chairperson, CHF) and Dr. Deep Thacker (Executive Director, CHF). Mr. Asadur Rahman (CFO, UNICEF West Bengal), Mr. Nasir Ateeq and Mr. Suresh Thakur from UNICEF and Dr. Pankaj Agrawal from Immunization Division (MOHFW) also attended the meeting.

27th March 2016- Mumbai, Maharashtra

The 7th meeting on Polio Endgame and IPV Introduction: Critical Role of Medical Professionals was held at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Mumbai, Maharashtra on 27th March 2016. The meeting was attended by 51 participants from across Maharashtra, Goa and Chattisgarh. The participants included office bearers of Central, state and district/city branches of IAP. Dr. T Jacob John, Dr. Anisur Rahman Siddique and Dr. Naveen Thacker were the faculties for the workshop. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Vineet Saxena (Trustee, CHF) and Dr. Deep Thacker (Executive Director, CHF). Dr Ajay Gambhir from NNF and Dr Khanindra Bhuyan from UNICEF also attended the meeting.

APPA Gavi and Partners Immunization Advocacy Workshop, 20- 21st January 2016 – Hyderabad, Telangana

Child Health Foundation supported APPA Gavi and Partners Immunization Advocacy Workshop with help of Global Health Strategies, International Vaccine Access Center, John Hopkins Bloomberg University and Coalition of Centers in Global Child Health which was held on 20- 21st January 2016 at Hyderabad, Telangana during APCP PEDICON 2016 in which 60 participants from Asia Pacific countries participated.

The objectives of the workshop was to update the participants on the status of childhealth, survival and immunization in Asia Pacific Region, to share best practices both globally and with other pediatricians of Asia Pacific on interactions with government, parents and activists, to empower and motivate participants to develop tailored strategies and specific plans of action for engaging their national pediatric societies in improving immunization and child health policy, advocacy, and implementation at national and regional levels leading to increase in coverage and equity .

At the end of the workshop, participants were designated as APPA Child Health Ambassadors and definite ToR was developed for these ambassadors. The faculties of this workshop were renowned international personalities like Dr Mathuram Santosham, Dr Zulfikil Ismail, Dr Usa Thisyakorn, Dr Tony Nelson, Dr Lulu Bravo, Dr Lois Privor Dumm, etc

A Pediatricians Call to Action was signed by all the participants with road map for national level and State level efforts, including a scorecard to measure progress and for accountability in each country.

Muzaffarpur Encephalopathy Research Study

CHF received funds from CARE India to conduct a study on “Understanding the causation of AES epidemic in Muzaffarpur to reduce Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) related morbidity & mortality in Bihar.” Litchi seeds had been collected in previous season and raw fruits were collected this season for toxicology studies at Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow. Synthetic MCPG was imported from Europe and toxicology studies performed and initial report was submitted to CARE.