Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Second round of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization programme began today from Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar with the Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla administering Polio drops to children.
This campaign will continue for another two days by way of house-to-house activity to trace and administer polio drops to the children left out on the first day of the round.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Taj advised the parents to strictly follow the vaccination schedule to keep their children disease free, adding that the pulse polio programme has been very effective in checking polio cases with the constant and excellent efforts of all the stakeholders.
Mr Bhalla asked the concerned officers to ensure that the maximum number of children of the State are covered under this programme so that they are saved from the fatal disease. He also called for vigorous campaign to create awareness among the masses about the benefits of administering these drops to their children for successful implementation of the programme.
Secretary Health and Medical Education, Gazanfar Ali, Director Health Services Jammu Dr Baljit Singh Pathania, Mission Director NRHM, Dr Yashpal, Director Family Welfare, Dr Baldev Sharma and other senior officers of the Health Department were also present on the occasion.
Around 80 percent children were immunized on the polio booths in Jammu division on day one of the second round of the campaign while district Kishtwar had the highest coverage of 91.39 percent.
In Kashmir, Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was formally launched by the Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar at JLNM Hospital Rainawari by administering pulse polio drops to several children.
The Minister, who was accompanied by the officers of Health Department Kashmir Division, directed to ensure that the maximum number of children of the State should be covered under this programme so that their precious life is saved from fatal disease of polio and other related ailments.
On this occasion, the Minister was informed that in Srinagar district, 1,75,178 children will be immunized under the programme and around 1,08,5390 would be administered the vaccine in the Kashmir division.
At Kupwara, the Assistant Commissioner Revenue administered Pulse Polio drops to several children at District Hospital Handwara.
At Baramulla, Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was inaugurated by the District Development Commissioner. On the occasion, Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Baramulla, and field staff of the hospital were also present.
At Gurez Tehsil, SDM launched the Immunization Programme in the Tehsil. He was informed that in the Tehsil 5041 children of upto 0-5 years are being administered polio drops for which 226 employees and 12 supervisors were deployed for 54 pulse polio centres and 3 mobile centres were also engaged for the programme.
At Budgam, Chief Planning Officer, administered Pulse Polio drops to the children upto 0-5 years of age at Chief Medical Officer’s office Budgam.
At Anantnag, Kulgam, Bandipora and Shopian, Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was inaugurated by the respective District Development Commissioners.
At Kargil, despite cold and minus temperature, parents got their wards at nearest Polio Booth to administered polio drops. To make successful of the programme, the department dispatched logistics and vaccine to far flung areas of the district two day earlier and established 382 booths, 10 transit camps and 3 mobile teams. Besides, the department has deployed 1576 employees to cover 20,967 children of 0-5 years.
Chief Medical Officer Kargil, inaugurated the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme at District Hospital Kargil by administering polio drops to child born just two hours earlier and was kept in SNCU Unit, District Hospital Kargil.
Chief Medical Officer, Kargil, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Kargil, inspected various polio booths of the surrounding areas of town.
At Katra, BMO Katra, Dr Gopal Dutt launched the campaign and informed that 62 polio booths were established for the purpose where floating population was also covered.
CRPF Commandant of 38th Batallion Ranbir Singh and Deputy Commandant J P Sharma visited Health Centre at Talab Shah village and helped the Health Department team in administering polio drops.
CRPF Commandant of 78th Batallion, Vikram Singh Thakur and Medical Officer Dr Supinder conducted pulse polio immunization programme in Channi Himmat through mobile vans and door to door visits.
Lion Club Vijaypur organized a camp at Vijaypur Chowk under the chairmanship of Ghar Singh and Ramesh Slathia for administering polio drops to the children.
In Reasi, about 52000 children in the age group of 0-5 were administered polio drops.
ADC Reasi Rajinder Singh Tara launched this drive from CMO office. For the campaign, 1,559 workers, including four mobile teams, had been constituted to ensure coverage of eligible children.
On 13-km-long Katra Vaishno Devi track, four points, including Bhawan, Adh-Kuwari, Shanji-Chhat and Charan Paduka, had also been identified where booths had been set up for administering polio drops.
Follow our WhatsApp channel