PGI study reveals 43.8% of migrant kids unimmunised

A study titled "Child care practices and prevalence of malnutrition and immunization coverage in the construction sites of Chandigarh: Surrogate markers of child neglect in an upcoming Metropolitan city" conducted by PGI's department of Advanced Paediatrics Centre on the children of migrant labourers in Chandigarh revealed that a staggering number of children (43.8 per cent) were not immunised.

Further malnutrition was found in 55 per cent of the children. The study showed that the children of migrant labourers predominantly remain invisible in terms of healthcare accessibility, various programs and policy benefits and much more is required to do for them.

The study was conducted to know the child care practices and prevalence of malnutrition, status of immunisation among children up to the age of 6 years at construction sites of City Beautiful in 2009-10.

The study revealed that while prevalence of under-nutrition was at 56.5 per cent, stunting was recorded among 37.8 per cent, while severe malnourishment was see in 21.25 per cent of the children.

"Given the high prevalence of malnutrition and un-immunised status, urgent intervention by the state in providing food and basic immunisation for this vulnerable section of society must be done. Tailoring the all-inclusive community-oriented package of services to suit the 'migrant' nature of the population of construction workers will yield the desired effect," said Dr Pratibha Singhi, professor at the department of paediatrics in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

Another study done by the department to study the immunisation program in the city found that 95.5 per cent children below the age of five years were fully immunised while the remaining missed out either on the booster doses or on the follow up. Doctors said that this can be dangerous as such children are always at risk of getting diseases such as measles, diphtheria and tetanus.

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