Polio immunization drive launched
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 03 2024: Launching the Nationwide Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization drive in the State today, Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan has appealed to people to administer two oral polio drops to every child under the age of 5 without fail.

The Health Minister launched the National Immunization Day/Intensified Pulse Polio Immuni- zation Programme 2024 at the State Family Welfare Training Centre, Lamphelpat.

During the programme, Dr Sapam Ranjan also inaugurated a Model Immunization Centre.

The yearly polio immunization programme will last till March 5 .

The State Directorate of Family Welfare and State Health Society, National Health Mission are organising the immunization programme.

Polio immunization drive launched

At the launch of the immunization programme, Dr Sapam Ranjan said every child in Manipur under the age of 5 should be administered with two drops of oral polio vaccine for protection from polio.

Even though polio has been eradicated from India, the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme is organised every year to prevent its spread to India from neighbouring countries which are still facing the problem, he said.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared India free of polio on March 27, 2014, it (polio) has not been eradicated in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan etc, Dr Sapam Ranjan said.

The immunization programme will last till March 5, he said, urging people in the State to get every child under 5 administered with two drops of oral polio vaccine.

National Health Mission's State Mission Director, Dr Somorjit Ningombam said immunization is being carried out at booths, opened for the drive.

To cover all infants and children under 5, door to door drive will be carried out on March 4 and 5, he said.

What is polio?

According to Mayo Clinic, polio is an illness caused by poliovirus that mainly targets nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain stem that control muscle movement.

In its most severe form, polio can lead to a person being unable to move certain limbs, also called paralysis.

It can also lead to trouble breathing and sometimes death.

The disease also is called poliomyelitis.

How polio spreads

The virus can spread easily.

People carrying the poliovirus-even people who don't get sick-can pass along the virus in feces, or droplets from sneezing or coughing.

The virus enters another person through the mouth.

For example, the virus can spread if people haven't washed their hands after coughing, using the toilet or before eating.

The virus also may be in water contaminated with feces carrying the poliovirus. The most effective way to prevent polio is vaccination.

The launch of the National Immunization Day/Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was attended by Family Welfare Services Director Dr L Tomcha and health Services Director Dr O Sanahanbi Devi.