WHO in India 2021

The Union Territory of Kashmir launched the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign from 3-30 November 2021, to address vaccine hesitancy in certain pockets that reported low coverage of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. WHO collaborated with the state health department to identify challenges that have led to vaccine hesitancy, conduct special vaccination drives to increase vaccination coverage, and reinforce COVID-19 appropriate behaviours (CABs) through distribution of masks to the community.

Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh initiated environment sewage sampling in December to detect potential traces of SARS-CoV2 and its variants, including Omicron. The Indian Council for Medical Research-WHO India led sampling is being conducted at multiple sites across states. A WHO Surveillance Medical Officer accompanied representatives from Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Health Department, and Department of Virology at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh, to observe sample collection at a site where biomedical waste (BMW) is segregated in colour-coded bags for disinfection and disposal, as per guidelines.

A WHO surveillance medical officer with Chief Medical Officer, District Immunisation Officer and members of the rapid response team and emergency medical services at a fruit market in Shopian district during a special COVID vaccination drive in the interior urban pockets in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. More than 100 first doses of the vaccine were administered under the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign, to address vaccine hesitancy across India.

WHO’s state team of surveillance medical officers, field monitors, and officer-on-special assignment discuss routine immunisation (RI) micro plans with state and district health officials in Delhi. The WHO field team is supporting the state government to strengthen RI microplanning by building the capacity of auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and ASHAs.

A WHO surveillance medical officer supports the District Immunisation Officer conduct AEFI (adverse effects following immunisation) investigation of a post-COVID-19 vaccination death in the Jamui district of Bihar. WHO’s state team is supporting the state government to conduct AEFI investigations to reinforce safety and build trust in vaccines.

A WHO rapid response team (RRT) member monitors routine immunisation (RI) activity in Ladiagarh village in the Longleng district of Nagaland. WHO is supporting the state government in its efforts to strengthen the health systems and provide essential healthcare services to marginalized populations that are dependent on government health services.

Dr Roderico H Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, receives an award on behalf of the WHO Bihar team from Mr Mangal Pandey, Hon’ble Health Minister of Bihar, at an event to mark the state administering the highest COVID-19 vaccination doses in a single day. Bihar achieved a new milestone in its vaccination drive by administering 33 lakh shots of the COVID-19 vaccine on 17 September 2021, which was the highest in the country for that day. WHO is supporting the state government’s COVID-19 vaccination drive by assisting in monitoring, vaccine storage, and addressing barriers to vaccination.

Members of WHO rapid response team (RRT) sensitising the village head and chairman of Taknyu village in Tuensang district in Nagaland. The village had reported low vaccine coverage due to hesitancy. Community mobilisation to address the challenges and barriers to vaccination helps to overcome vaccine hesitancy amongst the people.

A WHO surveillance medical officer reviewing survey findings and due-lists of a routine immunisation (RI) session with field-level workers at an Anganwadi Centre in Khanpur Pakri village in the Vaishali district of Bihar. RI microplanning and beneficiary due-lists help to ensure that vaccines reach marginalised populations.

A woman being administered a COVID-19 vaccine at a health camp and baby shower organised for 26 pregnant women by the district health department under a joint Health Department and Child Development Project at Arya Samaj School in Raxaul Municipal Council, East Champaran district in Bihar. WHO partnered with the district health department to sensitise and train the vaccinators to administer COVID-19 shots to pregnant women.

A WHO surveillance medical officer supports district health officials conduct house-to-house monitoring of polio vaccination in Satara district in Maharashtra. The district reported a decline in immunisation coverage during the sub-national immunisation days in June 2021. WHO has collaborated with the state health department to assess the quality of vaccination activities in the district and identify bottlenecks that have led to low coverage.

Public health staff, including epidemiologists, programme managers, laboratory technicians and assistants involved in surveillance and reporting of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), attended a block-level VPD surveillance training in Shankargarh in Balrampur in the Balrampur-Ramanujganj district of Chhattisgarh. WHO is supporting the state government to develop a workforce trained in data analysis and interpretation of health-related data to strengthen the public health programme.

A WHO team counsels Afghan evacuees quarantined at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Chhawla Camp in Najafgarh in South West Delhi district in New Delhi. WHO is supporting the state government in the ongoing polio surveillance of Afghan evacuees, capacity building of health workers to administer polio vaccines, stool collection for polio surveillance, and encouraging travellers to adopt COVID-19 appropriate behaviours.

An Indian citizen being inoculated with oral polio vaccine and fractional inactivated poliovirus vaccine at home in Bokaro district in Jharkhand following evacuation from Afghanistan on 22 August 2021. Along with district health officials, a WHO surveillance medical officer and a field monitor, a medical officer-in-charge, an auxiliary nurse midwife, and an alternate vaccine delivery system provider, are conducting home visits to administer polio vaccines to all arrivals from Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic.

A child receives polio drops from a WHO-National Public Health Support Programme (NPSP) officer at Hindon Air Force Base in Ghaziabad. The NPSP is assisted the state government, district administration and airport staff to vaccinate passengers arriving from Afghanistan against polio and get them tested for COVID-19. India is polio free, with the last polio case reported on 13 January 2011.

India is vaccinating evacuees on arrival from Afghanistan against polio, which has been eradicated in India but continues to infect children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. India reported its last case of polio on 13 January 2011. WHO National Public Health Support Programme was part of the state government’s multi-disciplinary teams to vaccinate passengers against polio at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

A WHO medical officer and a field monitor assist the district immunisation officer review the COVID-19 vaccination status of the flood-affected communities at a flood relief camp at Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University in Bhagalpur, Bihar. WHO field teams are supporting the state government in the flood-affected areas in Bhagalpur urban and surrounding blocks to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccination services and adherence to COVID appropriate behaviours (CAB) through community sensitisation in flood-relief camps.

Mr Vishwajit Rane, health minister of Goa, felicitates the WHO state team as ‘COVID warriors’ at an event organised by the Directorate of Health Services in Panaji, Goa. The team comprising a surveillance medical officer, an administrative assistant, a driver and a janitor -- has been honoured for unparalleled contribution towards enhancing the resilience of health systems and communities during the pandemic.

Dr Roderico H Ofrin, WHO Representative to India (second from left), visits a routine immunisation site at an Anganwadi Centre in Naugawan village, in Nawabganj block in Unnao district. The WHO state team is assisting the state government to expand and implement routine immunisation activities by supporting monitoring, biomedical waste management, microplanning, and maintaining tally sheets and vaccinators’ roster.

Field monitoring of ASHAs being conducted by a WHO medical team in Bhatauli Dharam village, Harpalpur block in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. Frontline workers such as ASHAs are leading the COVID-19 response across India. Monitoring sessions such as this one review correct use of oxymeters and adherence to infection prevention and control practices and data-collection protocols during house visits for COVID-19 screening and collecting health-related information.

A WHO medical officer and field monitor validate samples and subjects of a sero-epidemiological study in Powayan block of Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. WHO is supporting the government in conducting epidemiological studies across the state to address knowledge gaps and inform policy decisions for an evidence-based COVID-19 response.

WHO medical teams facilitate the training of close to 40 participants on surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), measles-rubella and other vaccine-preventable diseases at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Bariyarpur in Munger district, Bihar. The participants included the district immunisation officer, medical officer in-charge, non-profit partners, and community health workers.

On the urging of ASHA worker (community health volunteer) Ms Rekha Ben J. Badhiya, 98-year-old Mr Bogha Bhai Karena received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Valasan village in Jamjodhpur block in Jamnagar district, Gujarat. He has now become a community mobiliser who encourages others to get vaccinated. He shares his experience with WHO medical officer Dr Vinay Kumar and Ms Badhiya.

A woman gets her COVID-19 shots in a Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) bus in Thane district in Maharashtra on 7 July 2021. The district health department has partnered with KDMC to use buses as mobile COVID-19 vaccination sites to increase coverage in settlements with high population density and low vaccination coverage.

A team comprising WHO surveillance medical officer, district immunisation officer and auxiliary nurse midwife investigate an adverse effect following immunisation (AEFI) in an 18 months old child who developed fever and diarrhoea after getting routine immunisation shots. WHO officers are providing technical support to the district AEFI committees to determine whether the vaccines or the immunisation process caused the AEFI.

A bride gets a COVID-19 shot on her wedding day at Vishnupad Temple in Bodh Gaya village in Rajauli block in Nawada district, Bihar, on 15 July 2021. “I convinced the couple to get vaccinated and they readily agreed. Coincidentally, they got married at the Vishnupad Temple, which is also a COVID-19 vaccination site,” said Ms Neha Kumari, auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), who vaccinated the couple. Community health workers such as ANMs and ASHAs are driving vaccination drives from the front and building trust in the vaccine among the communities they serve.

A WHO field monitor on a house-to-house monitoring visit in a migrant settlement in Raipur block in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 5 July. WHO field teams supported the state government in monitoring polio vaccination coverage during the Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) in June.

A WHO surveillance medical officer and a field monitor conducting house-to-house sessions to verify if children received polio vaccine doses during Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) on 5 July 2021. About 401 children were monitored, based on a standard monitoring format, out of which 16 were found unimmunised. The feedback was provided to the local authorities to ensure left out children are vaccinated during mop-up rounds.

A WHO field monitor checks the ink marking on a baby’s finger as part of polio vaccination surveillance following the Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) organised from 27 June to 3 July, when close to 0.95 million children received polio drops across the state.

A WHO medical officer on a field monitoring visit in a temporary settlement in the Kosi flood plain bordering Darbhanga and Saharsa districts in Bihar on 3 July 2021. Children of migrant laborers often miss getting vaccinated and monitoring rounds such as this one help to identify missed children for mop-up vaccination rounds.

WHO surveillance medical officer and field monitor with ASHA about to start their boat journey on the Padma river to reach Narukhaki village in West Bengal to vaccinate children under 5-years-old during Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) in June 2021.

A WHO medical officer conducting a 60-days follow up of an acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case in Mundawar block in Alwar district in Rajasthan on 3 June 2021. Active surveillance for AFP is critical for detecting polio, which was eliminated in India a decade ago.

WHO field officers accompanied vaccinators who carried COVID-19 vaccines for several kilometres over mountainous terrain to vaccinate people in remote areas in Urgam village in Joshimath block in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand on 23 June 2021.

A WHO field monitor conducting house-to-house visits to record whether polio drops have been given to all children under 5 years in a flooded neighbourhood in Murlia Chak village in Dumra block, Sitamarhi district in Bihar on 3 July 2021.

A WHO medical officer conducts a district-level training of trainers (ToT) workshop on sub-national immunisation days (SNIDs) at GNMTC Barmer hospital in Rajasthan on 16 June 2021. The ToTs oriented 136 doctors on immunisation with support from Barmer district magistrate, district chief medical officer, and district health officials.

WHO teams of medical officers and field monitors and district health officials discuss the survey findings of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour (KAB) study conducted in five selected blocks from 8-11 June in Sant Kabir Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh. WHO is supporting the state analyse the reasons for low COVID-19 vaccination coverage, revise strategies and communication plans to increase vaccination coverage in blocks with low vaccination coverage.

WHO medical officers and the state rapid response team and medical officer-in-charge jointly monitor a COVID-19 vaccination session at Shantivan Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre in Umshangling village in Ri Bhoi district in Meghalaya on 22 June 2021.

A WHO medical officer observes the first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) being administered in Kohima Village Primary Health Centre in Nagaland on 11 June 2021. The state government launched the PCV drive in June 2021 to reduce childhood pneumonia cases and deaths in children. WHO medical officers are supporting the government in monitoring and evaluating vaccine coverage.

Community leaders at a sensitisation meeting to boost COVID-19 vaccine acceptance chaired by the sub-district magistrate and co-chaired by the district immunisation officer and WHO medical officer in Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh on 15 June 2021. Data on post-vaccination outcomes in hospitalised patients versus unvaccinated people was shared at the meeting to reduce vaccine hesitancy and boost vaccine confidence.

WHO medical officer supports the district rapid response team conduct house-to-house visits for contact tracing, targeted sampling, and COVID-19 vaccination in response to the first case of Delta variant infection being reported in Gaj Colony in Faridabad, Haryana, on 25 June 2021. The team surveyed 5 750 houses, tested 642 people, and vaccinated over 1 000 people at special vaccination camps organised from 26-29 June 2021.

A WHO medical officer monitoring a COVID-19 vaccination session at Karkeli village in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh on 14 May 2021. WHO medical officers are supporting the state government to monitor vaccination rounds and review data to increase vaccination outreach.

About 958 people from all faiths including the Mev (also known as Meo or Mewati) community, were vaccinated during a special vaccination drive organised by the state government at Mev Boarding, Jama Masjid in Alwar district of Rajasthan on 28 June 2021. WHO medical officers are supporting the state government in expanding the vaccine coverage and outreach through advocacy, training, monitoring, and designing customised vaccine roll-out strategies.

WHO team along with health workers from Murshidabad district crossing the Padma river on boat to vaccinate children in Narukhaki village close to the Bangladesh border with India. The team conducted house-to-house monitoring visits in villages under Bajitpur Health Sub-centre under Teghari Block Primary Health Centre.

WHO surveillance medical and field officers cold-chain handlers monitor vaccine distribution at Maternal and Child Hospital, Raj Campus, in Darbhanga district in Bihar. WHO is supporting the state government in conducting door-to-door vaccination monitoring and advocacy during Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs).

A father gets his two children vaccinated against polio at Saibaba Mandir booth in Kamgar Nagar Health Post and Qureshi Dispensary in Kurla East, Mumbai, during Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) in June. WHO medical officers are supporting the state government in monitoring vaccination rounds to ensure no child gets left behind.

A WHO medical officer vaccinating a child against polio in Narukhaki village in Murshidabad district of West Bengal during Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) organized to reach children living in areas with low immunisation coverage. The team visited 152 houses and vaccinated 78 missed children in one day.

WHO medical officer monitors a COVID-19 vaccination session in Chiri village in Rohtak district of Haryana on 28 May 2021 to support the state government ensure vaccine quality, injection safety and reinforce the 3Ws (wash your hands, wear a mask, and watch you distance).

Residents of Bholsar village in Kahalgaon block in Bhagalpur district of Bihar attend a community mobilisation session on COVID-19 appropriate behaviours, testing and vaccination conducted by WHO field teams, ward members and Anganwadi workers on 2 June 2021.

A WHO medical officer discusses adverse event following immunisation and the importance of following COVID-19 appropriate behaviours and the 3Ws (wash your hands, wear a mask and watch you distance) even after vaccination, with people who received their vaccine dose.

WHO medical officer monitoring a routine immunisation session at Baikunth Pur village in Rajapakar block in Vaishali district, Bihar on 5 June 2021.

WHO team provides on-site training to health workers to facilitate sample collection during a site visit for environmental surveillance of poliovirus at Fatahpur Pumping Station in Khapar Kheri village of Amritsar on 1 June 2021.

WHO medical officer and district officers meet religious leaders to address vaccine hesitancy at Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram vaccination site in Belwatiya village in Sugauli block in East Champaran district of Bihar on 10 May 2021.

WHO medical officer reviews routine immunization during Mission Indradhanush at a primary health centre in Imphal, Manipur, to support the state reach unvaccinated children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Childhood vaccines protect against life-threatening diseases, such as measles, rubella and pneumonia.

A WHO medical officer reviews the survey data of Haryana Villagers General Health Checkup Scheme in Garhi village in Sampla block in Rohtak district, Haryana on 20 May 2021. The community health workers were also trained in infection prevention and control, identifying COVID-19 symptoms, use of pulse oximeters and promoting of COVID-19 appropriate behaviours.

WHO medical officer monitoring COVID-19 vaccination session at a school in Ranishwar block in Dumka district of Jharkhand on 10 May 2021.

A WHO medical officer at a COVID-19 vaccination centre at a primary health centre in Imphal West, Manipur to review planning and implementation of the vaccine drive on 1 June 2021.

Civil Hospital Sundernagar in Mandi district is one of the many peripheral hospitals in Himachal Pradesh using WHO provided oxygen concentrators to support India’s COVID-19 response.

Chief Minister of Karnataka Mr BS Yediyurappa received oxygen concentrators from a WHO team on behalf of the state in the presence of the state health and medical education minister, senior cabinet ministers and government officials. WHO has provided oxygen concentrators to states to support the country's COVID-19 surge response.

A man with COVID-19 using an oxygen concentrator provided by WHO at Oking Hospital and Research Clinic in Kohima. Nagaland government received oxygen concentrators from WHO on 22 May 2021, and the very next day, these were used to support COVID-19 affected patients with breathing distress.

A WHO Surveillance Medical Officer sensitises ASHA workers and facilitators on how to identify possible cases of COVID-19 based on symptoms, and the importance of following infection prevention and control measures at Health and Wellness Centres.

A patient being treated at a COVID Consultation Care Centre (CCCC) in Pushkar in Ajmer District. Several Community Health Centres have been upgraded to CCCCs with oxygen-supported beds to manage mild to moderate cases referred by medical colleges and district hospitals to decongest tertiary hospitals.

WHO field officers support ASHA workers (community health workers) conduct house-to-house surveillance for people with COVID-19 symptoms in Kanech and Bhairomunna villages in Ludhiana district.

A team of government medical officers and WHO officers visit a COVID-19 Consultation Care Centre in Bassi block in Jaipur district. At least one community health centre in each administrative block in Rajasthan has been designated as a CCCC to strengthen primary health care and increase the oxygen bed capacity in rural areas.

A WHO Surveillance Medical Officer conducting acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance during the COVID-19 surge in Chamtha village in Bachhwara block of Begusarai district. AFP case investigation and follow-up are critical to rule out wild poliovirus in the environment to maintain India’s polio-free status.

A routine immunization monitoring session, which includes interviewing parents about their children’s vaccination schedule, being conducted in Haibatpur village in Khusrupur in Patna district. With the support of ward members, WHO Surveillance Medical Officers also address vaccine hesitancy issues during field visits.

WHO medical officer monitoring COVID-19 vaccination site to ensure correct protocols and reporting, including recording of all adverse events following immunisation.

WHO medical officers monitoring a COVID-19 vaccination session as a part of quality assurance.

WHO Surveillance Medical Officer monitoring a session to test people with COVID-19 symptoms in Sadiq village in Faridkot district. The WHO team used this opportunity to reinforce the importance of following COVID-19 appropriate behaviours and encourage people to get tested.

A WHO team receiving a consignment of oxygen concentrators for the state in Hyderabad. These concentrators were handed over to Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation for use in hospitals across the state.

State government officials examining oxygen concentrators brought by WHO on 19 May 2021 to support Gujarat’s COVID-19 response.

A WHO medical officer monitoring a COVID-19 vaccination session in Machaki Kalan village in Faridkot. She also addressed concerns about vaccine safety and offered solutions to address vaccine hesitancy.

The WHO team in Rajasthan collaborated with the state government to build the capacity of 7 331 community health officers to provide surge support across 33 districts. Community health officers, who are usually the first responders, have been trained in infection prevention and control practices, prone therapy protocols, psychosocial counselling, and surveillance activities through a mix of classroom and virtual sessions.

Mr T S Singh Deo, the Health Minister of Chhattisgarh, received a consignment of 150 oxygen concentrators on behalf of the state government.

The Rajasthan Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma accepting WHO-supported oxygen concentrators in Jaipur on behalf of the state on 17 May 2021.

Punjab Health Minister Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu and Director Health Services Dr G B Singh receiving a consignment of oxygen concentrators from the WHO team in Chandigarh. These are part of the 4000 oxygen concentrators brought in by WHO last week and rushed to states.

170 metric tons of WHO-supported medical resources, including oxygen concentrators and tents for temporary health facilities, reached Delhi on 15 May; 27 truckloads of these were rushed to states and union territories from a warehouse in Haryana to support India’s COVID-19 response.

WHO-supported 4000 oxygen concentrators and 128 tents for auxiliary health facilities arrived in Delhi on 15 May 2021. Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh were among the states which received oxygen concentrators on 17 May 2021.

WHO medical officer supporting the medical team at the Mulund Jumbo Covid-19 Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra on 6 May.

WHO medical officer visits an oxygen plant at Mulund Jumbo's COVID-19 centre in Mumbai. WHO technical field officers are supporting the Municipal Corporation Greater Mumbai in rapid data analysis and sharing of the situation analysis to guide policy level decision-making.

WHO medical officer monitoring quality of sample collection for rapid antigen testing at the Railway Station in Bhagalpur. WHO is supporting the state train government technicians on the correct procedures of COVID-19 testing.

WHO field staff monitoring active case finding in Kanpur Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh urge the lady of the house to wear a mask, wash hands frequently and observe social distancing.

A WHO Surveillance Medical Officer assisting the district medical team in the monitoring of a COVID-19 vaccination site in Barabanki District as part of the active case finding activity, under which people at risk of severe disease are also advised to get vaccinated.

A WHO field officer makes the most of a short break during a vaccination session at YPSM Homeopathic College Alwar to demonstrate the correct handwashing protocols to vaccinators and health care workers.