In the early days, the Triton, locally known as “Sangu” a traditional instrument was used to make “the call” to gather locals for vaccination. This method was used during polio vaccination campaigns and brings together men, women and children irrespective of gender and social status making vaccination a community event.
Small sailing vessels known as “ Bokkura” was one of the key method used to transport distribute and deploy essential vaccines to the hundreds of tiny islands scattered across the vast Indian Ocean in the Maldives, the most geographically dispersed nation on the planet.
It has been nearly 46 years since the first drop of polio was given in the Maldives. Vaccination in the Maldives began in 1967 following an outbreak of poliomyelitis involving 300 cases. . Since then OPV has been used in the country with a high immunization coverage of >95%, making the Maldives immunization programme as one of the most successful in the world.
The idea of the images was to create how polio vaccination programme were conducted in Maldives at late 80′s and 90. Concepts were developed with help form HPA staff and the images was produced with in 3 days. All the faces used on the images are from HPA | Maldives and there friends. These images are superimposed to produce the idea and feet due to short time frame and deadline.
One of the images has being exhibited at Maldives Exhibit stand at Polio Certification Event - 27th March 2014 ( World Health Organization, New Delhi )
Photography & Editing : Ali Nishan (Millzero)
Assistance : Ibrahim Tholal
Location : Villingili
Client : Health Protection Agency | Maldives
Production : February 2014
Assistance : Ibrahim Tholal
Location : Villingili
Client : Health Protection Agency | Maldives
Production : February 2014
