District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Mohammad Harun Malik today reviewed preparedness and implementation of Sparsh Leprosy awareness campaign and National Immunization Day to be held from January 28.During the meeting, chaired by DDC, officers informed 622 pulse polio booths, 9 mobile booths and 57 hard to reach areas booths have been set up across the district to cover the target population of 103359 children under the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) on NID to be held on January-28.Officials maintained that with the strenuous efforts by the health department no fresh cases of leprosy have turned up elsewhere in the district in last two years, while as the already 12 existing patients were undergoing proper healthcare and medication.Speaking on occasion, DDC exuded confidence in the ability of the health department to ensure the success of both programs.
However, he said since there is always scope for improvement and emphasized on refresher sensitization programs for grassroot level workers so that there is no laxity or complacency in the execution of health-related programs.DDC also stressed on proper monitoring of program and the committee constitutes were asked to undertake field visits during implementation.Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Budgam GM Dar, while speaking on the occasion said that the IPPI would be held in two rounds January 28 and March- 2 respectively under which 103359 children up to 5 years age would be administered anti-polio vaccine across the district.Deputy CMO, Dr Tehmeena Bukhari while speaking at the occasion said IEC material and all logistics would be distributed in the whole district almost a week ahead of NID. “We will also advertise and make announcements through loudspeakers from local mosques across the district prior 3 days to NID,” she said.Among others officers District Social Welfare Officer Tariq Ahmad Reshi, District Tuberculosis Officer Dr Adfar, District Health Officer and Block Medical Officers also attended the meet.