Campaign underway in Senapati
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, March 24 2022: Senapati OC Mahesh Chaudhari on Thursday launched Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization/National Immunization Day, 2022 as chief guest during a function held at Mini Stadium, Senapati.

The programme was also attended by Dr A Pfokreho Pfoze, CMO/director, District Health Society, Senapati as functional president in the presence of Rapid Response Team, WHO, DPO, ICDS Cell, Senapati, ASHA facilitators/ workers, parents and children.

In his keynote address, Dr Ngouniba Peter, DIO, Senapati, stated that the district joined the nation as well as the world in the process of eradicating polio from the face of the earth.

With effective implementation of PPI which was later changed to IPPI, India was declared polio-free in 2014 by the WHO.

Although India is free from polio, cases of polio are still being reported in the neighbouring countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

With the recent Afghanistan political crisis, there is a high chance of importation of the virus into the country.

Moreover, due to the prevailing Covid pandemic, all the routine immunizations have been adversely affected as well as all national health programmes could not be implemented properly, he said.

There is a high chance of another outbreak of the virus at any moment if all the routine immunizations or national immunization programmes and active surveillance of all vaccine-preventable diseases are not effectively implemented.

Immunization or vaccinating children in the age group of 0-5 years is conducted at booth level in the district with 44 booths set up in the district headquarters and 390 booths across the district.

Vaccination teams are being pressed into service, the DIO further informed.

While seeking cooperation from all, the DIO said, "No child should be left unvaccinated" in order to maintain India's polio-free status.

Mahesh Chaudhari, who is also the chairman of District Health Society, lauded the service of ASHA workers during the recently concluded state assembly elections.

He said that India has set an example to the world, assuring polio-free by administering of polio vaccinations since the past many years.

With around 400 polio booths set up in district, the DC is hopeful of eradication polio in the district by giving polio drops to all children each year.

Mahesh Chaudhari then announced that Covid vaccination for 12-14 years has started in the district and appreciated parents for encouraging vaccination of their children in the age group of 15-18 years in the past.

He also appealed to all parents' associations and school associations to come forward and get the kids vaccinated so as to ward off any possible fourth wave of the pandemic.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr A Pfokreho Pfoze urged all to cooperate in the polio vaccination drive to ensure the district is free from polio.

He said that polio vaccine is very safe and a child can get 90% protection with 2 drops if given twice and 99-100% if administered up to 3rd and 4th doses.

He also asked all including in the age group of 12-14 years to get doses of Covid vaccine to turn the pandemic into endemic.

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