Rishika’s scared of the camera, but doesn’t have to fear illnesses

Three and a half year old Rishika is a kindergarten student in the Primary School run by HOPE Foundation in Pudupattinam, near Chennai, India. She is a resident of the coastal village of Uyallikuppam, and her family was one of the many that were affected by the tsunami that hit the coast of South India in 2004. Her father, Sudhakar, works in the village.

Before Rishika was enrolled in the school, the school authorities made sure that she was taken to the government run primary health clinic where she was given the DPT (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) shot, OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) and the Hepatitis vaccine. Rishika will continue receiving OPV whenever there is a pulse polio drive. A primary health worker will also be visiting the school periodically, to ensure that she gets all her subsequent vaccinations on time.

Rishika’s never seen a camera before, and her fear of the unknown is apparent on her face. However, thanks to your donation, Noah, Rishika will not have to be scared of contracting the seven easily preventable illnesses that are responsible for so many deaths in the developing world.

Thank you.