when is this on?
| This isn't scheduled anytime soon. |
 Fragile Lives
Narrated by Ian Holm and filmed in Africa, Asia and Europe this film shows how immunisation can help prevent diseases around the world.
Sometimes war is the enemy of immunisation, sometimes due to ethnic distrust, rumours and misinformation. But there are heroes as well - people dedicated to bringing immunisation to every child, everywhere. Filmed on location in Africa, Asia, and Europe, "Fragile Lives-Immunization at Risk" brings to life the human face of immunisation, its promises and its challenges.
It includes segments on anti-vaccination rumours and misinformation (polio in India and measles in Ireland), vaccine security (local vaccine production in India), emergency epidemics (meningitis in Burkina Faso), the challenges of providing routine immunization services and introducing new vaccines (hep B and other vaccines in India) and rebuilding shattered immunization services following long years of war (a measles campaign in Angola).
We see how death and disability has affected many young children due to the lack of available medical centres in third world countries. Meningitis, Measles, Polio, Hepatitis B, are all covered.
In India famous cricketers are educating and encouraging locals to get their children immunised against Polio. We learn that Muslims are very reluctant to have their children immunised due to rumours, such as impotence rumours and beliefs. Availability of vaccines is not the only problem that faces this epidemic. Various campaigns to prevent this are being put forward.
We learn that that these viruses can affect more than Third World countries. Europeans are put off the measles vaccine due to rumours that it can cause Autism. But they also don not understand the implications of the virus itself – which can severely harm children.
The documentary has a very emotional interview with a mother of a young European child that died due to measles infection. She got the infection only four weeks before her due vaccination date and it is thought that her daughter caught the virus by being in contact with an unvaccinated child. This shows that parents that choose not to vaccinate their child put other children at risk.
Hepatitis B is another virus that has hit western countries and lack of awareness of vaccination against it is a problem. Vaccine supplies are becoming less available, with a lot of bias towards the economical world due to the cost. We see an interview with Mr Redi, who has developed a cheaper Hepatitis B vaccination that India could afford. See what he had to say.
The documentary ends with a very powerful interview with a woman in a Third World country who has lost many children to measles. Education has been brought to the schools to encourage vaccination. War can prevent vaccination as priorities are placed elsewhere.
This film cleverly portrays a worldwide problem and the need for effort to prevent disease taking the lives of young children. Don’t miss this informing programme on Community Channel.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 April 2006 )
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