MUMBAI (India CSR): Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), India’s leading shipbuilding company, has signed India’s first-ever district-level Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Satara Zilla Parishad, through their CSR implementation partner – Jivika Foundation to vaccinate 2,800 schoolgirls against cervical cancer.
Vaccination Drive Coverage
The immunization drive covered schools across four districts – Gadchiroli, Satara, Raigad, and Mumbai, mobilizing over 50 medical professionals and operational staff to ensure smooth and efficient vaccine administration. This initiative is part of the flagship Cervical Cancer Mukt Bharat Abhiyan by Jivika Foundation.
Extensive Awareness Campaign
Ahead of the vaccination drive, an extensive awareness campaign was conducted across 50+ schools, engaging over 1000 teachers, reaching more than 5,000 students and 5000 parents. The objective was to educate students, parents, and educators on cervical health, early screening, and prevention. Meticulous healthcare protocols of Jivika Foundation ensured written consent from parents before vaccinating their wards.
MDL CSR Head’s Statement
Speaking on the occasion, Amit Nabira, CSR Head Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, said, “At MDL, we are committed not just to strengthening India’s maritime capabilities but also to making a positive impact on society. Through this initiative, we aim to protect young girls from cervical cancer and raise awareness about preventive healthcare. We are honoured to collaborate with Satara Zilla Parishad and Jivika Foundation in this important mission.”
Satara Zilla Parishad CEO’s View
Yashni Nagrajan, Chief Executive Officer of Satara Zilla Parishad, stated, “Mission Tejaswini is a crucial step in protecting women’s health and reducing the cancer burden. Appreciate MDL’s support in immunisation program to achieve our endeavour for cancer free Satara.”
Jivika Foundation’s Perspective
Jignesh Patel, Founder & Director, Jivika Foundation, commented, “Preventive healthcare is the need of the hour, and cervical cancer is one of the most preventable diseases with timely vaccination. Through this initiative, we are not only providing protection but also spreading awareness among students, teachers, and parents. Our team ensured a seamless and safe vaccination process, reaching even the most remote schools to maximize impact.”
Ensuring Safety and Logistics
At vaccination sites, Jivika Foundation ensured seamless logistics with a safety-first approach, AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunization) preparedness, and a team of qualified doctors, nurses, and counsellors on-site to ensure safety and risk mitigation. Additionally, robust cold chain logistics and last-mile delivery mechanisms enabled vaccine access to even the most remote schools while maintaining efficacy. Jivika Foundation is working towards eliminating cervical cancer from India by working with corporates across India. So far the not-for-profit has been successful in vaccinating more than 30000 girls from lower economic strata in states of Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Mission Tejaswini’s Objective
Mission Tejaswini is Satara Zilla Parishad’s flagship initiative aimed at cancer prevention, early screening, and free treatment at government hospitals. As part of this mission, Jivika Foundation is actively raising awareness and administering HPV vaccinations to schoolgirls, reinforcing its commitment to public health.
Commitment to Public Health
This initiative marks a significant step towards safeguarding young girls against cervical cancer, demonstrating the collective commitment of Satara Zilla Parishad, MDL, and Jivika Foundation in advancing public health and well-being.
(India CSR)
