To review the preparedness of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) Phase 2 campaign in the district, a meeting of District Task Force Committee was held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, here today.While speaking on the occasion, DDC exhorted upon the concerned officers to focus on high risk areas including slums and nomadic populations where risks of polio are on the higher side besides labour class people should also be made aware about immunization. He stressed upon the officers of Health, ICDS, Social Welfare and Education departments to put in their sincere and coordinated efforts to make the district polio free.DDC stressed for organizing special awareness campaign for generating awareness among the general public regarding Pulse Polio Campaign. He said that Education, ICDS and RDD departments would play an important role in disseminating the message of IPPI campaign through their field functionaries to the remotest areas.
Discussions were also held on the issues and the shortfalls related to the Phase-1 of IPPI campaign and the concerned officers were directed to further instruct their field functionaries to attend training seriously. He stressed for wide publicity to the programme to educate people about Pulse Polio Immunization.DDC said that the special teams would be constituted for brick kilns and slum areas besides transit teams would also kept available at railway station and bus stands for immunization of children below 5 years.During the meeting, Chief Medical Officer apprised the DDC that 546 vaccination booths would be setup in different parts of the district during the campaign to cover 87718 children of 0-5 years for vaccination. He added that the 2nd phase of pulse polio campaign would be held on February 21, 2016 (Sunday) in the district. Booth activity will be held on February 21 following house to house activity for next two days, he further added.SSP, Suleiman Choudhary, Joint Director Planning, Mr. Rakesh Jamwal, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Chander Parkash, Chief Education Officer, Bishen Singh, Programme Officer, ICDS, Sanjay, ARTO Rajesh Gupta, concerned officers, religious leaders, representative of NGOs, DGPC and various prominent citizens attended the meeting.