Pulse polio immunization: State aims to cover over 3 lakh children between age 0-5 years
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2019: The Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) Programme will be conducted in the State covering its 16 districts on March 10 to 12, said Dr K Rajo Singh, Director Health & Family Welfare today.

The pulse polio immunization will cover about 3,50,000 children between the age of 0-5 years, he said.

Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization is a campaign established by the Government of India to eliminate poliomyelitis (polio) in India by vaccinating all children under the age of five years against the polio virus.

Speaking to media persons during the media sensitization programme at the conference hall of the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Dr K Rajo informed that a total of 3,618 polio booths will be opened across the State to facilitate administration of the vaccine to the children.

All the polio booths set up in localities across the State will administer the oral polio vaccine to the children under the age of 0-5 years on March 10.Left out children will be given the same opportunity to get immunize on March 11 and 12.All the Government health institutions/facilities will have special booths for polio vaccination on all the three days to ensure greater coverage, Rajo said.

The staffs are undergoing capacity building training and devising micro-plans for successful conduction of the immunization, he added.

So far 4,59,540 doses of polio vaccine have been sent out to centres in all the districts except Moreh.

Moreh's share of the vaccine will be sent by evening or tomorrow, he said.

The vaccine are being stored at 126 cold chain points, he added.

The programme is seeking a maximum target coverage of 3,50,000 children and minimum coverage of 2,93,000 children between the age of 0-5 years.

The 3,618 booths will have 724 supervisors and 14,472 vaccinators.

Nine observers will oversee the programme.

Poliomyelitis commonly known as polio is caused by Poliovirus.

Polio is a communicable disease usually transmitted from person to person through infected fecal matter entering the mouth.

It may also spread through contaminated food or water.

Many people who are infected with the poliovirus don't become sick and have no symptoms.

However, those who do become ill develop paralysis, which can sometimes be fatal.

The last reported cases of wild polio in India were in West Bengal and Gujarat on 13 January 2011.On March 27, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared India a polio free country, said Dr Rajo.

The polio immunization programme however continues in the country as polio is very much active in the neighbouring countries.

The immunization programme is to thwart any possible return of the disease through contact with infected persons of those countries where polio is active, he said.

He urged health professionals, staffs, general public, village headmen, Church leaders and others to actively participate in the immunization programme for total eradication of the disease.

Additional Director FW Salamat Ullah and State Nodal Officer Immunization Dr Nandakishore also attended the media sensitisation programme.

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