Mission of Kalyan Charitable Trust

Do you feel angry when you see a child, denied the basics in life: Immunization, Healthcare, Education and Equal opportunities? Do you wish that the Government invested more money in children? Do you wish to see children in your community protected against preventable diseases?

India has the largest number of children in the world - almost 400 Millions! 24 Millions are born every year. Many of these children will not achieve their potential because they did not have enough to eat, did not have proper healthcare, did not go to school and their rights were not protected.

Countries, rich and poor, should make the well being of their children their top priority.
The Noble Laureate Nelson Mandela was leading this Global Movement for Children at the United Nations General Assembly session on children in September 2001.

The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in India immunizes infants and children against Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus, and Poliomyelitis and Measles. Newer vaccines are now available to protect children against other infective diseases. However, cost considerations have restrained inclusion of these vaccines in the UIP.as yet.

Of many diseases that affect humanity, some are vaccine preventable. However, despite major successes and firm evidence of cost effectiveness, vaccines are not currently utilized to their full potential, for reasons such as unit cost, lack of awareness and inadequate public information campaign. Vaccines have vital role to play in reducing Global disease burden and more so, in the Developing Nations. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve vaccine coverage.

The Kalyan Charitable Trust ( KCT ) is established to address this requirement and extend the use of these new vaccines, which are not already included in the UIP of the Government of India. It is intended to cover the "Under Five" age group, as soon after birth at the appropriate time; as these are the children that are most vulnerable and once immunized will be fully protected against these communicable diseases from early infancy.

Hepatitis - B disease is a major cause for concern world wide, despite availability of a safe and effective vaccine for the past 15 years. WHO estimates that over 2 Billion people have been infected of which, 350 Millions will become chronic carriers and therefore be at risk of long term sequeale and premature death. Upto 1 Million people die every year from HBV related liver disease such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The vaccine provides long lasting immunity. Continuing follow up studies will confirm whether adult booster doses are needed at all, following earlier childhood vaccinations. Until this vaccine is integrated into the existing delivery system, it is necessary to deliver it as a separate program. In India, it should be assumed that all Neonates are at "high risk", as routine antenatal testing for mother's carrier status is not mandatory or strictly followed. Perinatal transmission is thus a distinct possibility and in India horizontal transmission is equally dominant. Hepatitis - B infection is certainly the world's most important chronic viral infection. From a Global health perspective, Hepatitis - B infection control and ultimately its eradication is a major priority.

Typhoid is a water and food borne disease. Clinical presentations are atypical in about 50% of cases and therefore, the disease is often difficult to diagnose. Morbidity and mortality due to this disease is high. Children constitute about 69% of hospitalized Typhoid victims. 3% to 5% of the affected people, remain chronic carriers and are therefore at a predisposition to cancer of the biliary tract. The bacteria have become multiple drug resistant; from 11% in 1980 to 80% in 1991. A single injection ensures effective protection for at least three years.

MMR is a triple vaccine against Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Although an effective vaccine has been available for many years, these three communicable diseases continue to affect millions of children around the world each year. To achieve herd immunity, in a population, a certain level of vaccination coverage is required. For Measles it is 92% to 95%, for Mumps it is 90% to 92% and for Rubella, 85% to 87%. Failure to achieve this coverage, will mean progressive increase in the non-immune population, leading to periodic epidemics. A two-dose MMR schedule is effective in preventing epidemics. A combined MMR vaccine, achieves all the benefits with fewer injections, less discomfort and reduced number of visits to the doctor.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics ( IAP ) recommends newer vaccines viz. Hepatitis - B, MMR, HIB ( Haemophilus Influenza B ), Typhoid and Hepatitis-A for those who can afford them. We at KCT, are undertaking to vaccinate children "Under five", against five major and highly prevalent diseases viz. Hepatitis- B, Typhoid and MMR at no cost. For this KCT will raise funds from within the country and abroad from individuals, institutions, industries and other charitable organizations that wish to contribute to our honorable and noble effort.

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