State joins Nation wide Polio immunization drive
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18 2015:
As part of the Nation-wide Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme, polio drops were administered to children in the age group of 0 to 5 years across
the State today.
The formal launching function of this year's programme was held at the Directorate of Family Welfare Services, BT Road with Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing as the chief guest today.
Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, Health Directorate Director and SMD of State Health Society, Dr O Ibomcha and Family Welfare Director Dr K Rajo also attended the function as the president and guest of honour respectively.
Speaking at the occasion, Phungzathang Tonsing urged the public to take the matter of administering polio drops to their children seriously as it is the only means to eradicate the disease completely.
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He also expressed concern over spread of rabies and loss of lives due to dog bites in Churachandpur and Thoubal districts.
The Minister also urged the general public not to release their pet canines at crowded areas.
In Imphal East district, DC M Joy, CMO Dr Pushpa Rai, District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ch Aruna were personally involved in the pulse polio immunization campaign.
M Joy said that the first round of the campaign, which would continue till January 20, has commenced across the country from today and the second round would begin from February 22 .
Polio drops would be administered in 382 booths under 12 PHCs in Imphal East district, he added.
Last year, the total number of booths was 496 .
He said that people might be facing some inconvenience as the number of booths has been cut down this year due to paucity of fund.
The DC however urged the general public to administer polio drops to their children at these booths to make India a polio-free country.
He said that mobile polio booths are opened at bus parkings and market areas as well for the convenience of the public.
Dr Ch Aruna said that the last polio case of the country was detected in Howrah in 2011 .
After that case, no polio case has been detected till date and India was declared a polio-free country last year, she added.
However, the campaign has continued this year as neighbouring countries like Myanmar and Pakistan are still not polio-free countries, Dr Ch Aruna said.