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About Punjab Sub-Awardees of Punjab Key strategies Empowering Health Partnerships & Learnings Our Gallery

About Punjab

Punjab, a state in Northern India, shares its borders with Himachal Pradesh to the north, Haryana to the south, and Chandigarh to the east. MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and State Government technical assistance and all-round support to increase the demand and uptake of the vaccine amongst vulnerable and marginalized communities residing in the state.

The Project, under the leadership of the State Government, built a seamless value chain of vaccine facilitators and many significant links in the process that translated to successful vaccine delivery within the state. Punjab’s COVID-19 vaccination drive stands testimony to how unity in thought and action can win impossible battles. The foundation of this success is the seamless coordination, cooperation, and interdisciplinary exchange between all our stakeholders.

Sub-Awardees Working in Punjab

The Project is being implemented in 18 districts of Punjab through 4 sub-awardees:
Transport Corporation of India (TCI), SARD, MAMTA, and HelpAge India

Key Interventions and Strategies to Increase COVID-19
Vaccination Coverage

To increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, the project supports the Government of India and the state
Government in vaccination planning, inter-departmental coordination, need-based monitoring, enhanced
community engagement and prioritization of activities for COVID-19 vaccination program at the state and
district. The team led the risk communication activities with the state officials and
coordinated efforts to enhance vaccination in low coverage areas.

01

Reaching Out to Mobile Group

The Project is being implemented in 18 districts of Punjab through 4 sub-awardees: Transport Corporation of India (TCI), SARD, MAMTA, and HelpAge India.

02

Engagement With Transgender Community

SARD in Transgender persons Community leaders, and pregnant and lactating women in Abohar City, Golden Temple in Amritsar and other districts.

03

Vaccinating Pregnant & lactating Women

MAMTA works closely with pregnant and lactating women, substance abusers, school children, IAP/IMA-FOGSI and drug de-addiction center – in Bhatinda urban and other districts.

04

Reaching Out To The the Persons With Disability

HelpAge India works with elderly and persons with Persons with disability, Mentally challenged population, Orphans, destitute in Pingalwara Ashram and other districts.

Empowering Health, Bridging
Equity: Vaccinating India's Future

The strategic intervention of the project has been captured through strategic documentation of the key interventions of the project. The stories below highlight the same:

The Project joined hands with local NGOs and mobilizers to reach transgender deras in Punjab. Targeted interventions and vaccination drives conducted by the Project and its partners. The state project team had an enlightening discussion with the transgender community leaders in the audience who have joined them in their efforts to spread vaccine confidence in the rural areas of Punjab.

The video documentation covers the major interventions of the project.

Partnerships & Learnings

Partnership with National Book Trust

The project, along with sub-awardee SARD, partnered with National Book Trust to create 3 storybooks: "Say Yes to Vaccine," "Impacting Reality: Stories of Resilience" for age groups 12-14 and 15-18. These books, in Hindi, Punjabi, and English, engage religious leaders, PRI members, transgenders, frontline workers, etc., on COVID-19 vaccination. Content covers science, myths, India's pandemic support, and vaccination drive, released at the World Book Fair (March 4, 2023).

Guests included Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma, Chairman, NBT-India; Mr. Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT; Mr. Sudhir Bhatnagar, CEO, SARD; Mr. Ashok Raisinghani, Director Operations, JSI-India.

Learning & Experience Sharing Meeting

On May 19, 2023, the project state team and SARD organized a Learning & Experience Sharing meeting. Dr. Balbir Singh, Punjab Health Minister, graced the event, praising the Momentum Routine Immunization project for expanding COVID-19 vaccination in Punjab. Mr. Vijay Paul Raj, Senior Health System Strengthening Advisor, USAID India, lauded the project's innovative strategies, like engaging Faith-based organizations and targeting vulnerable communities in unconventional places like Grain Markets.

The event included the release of a coffee table book showcasing the project's journey in Punjab, attended by various government dignitaries.