Keeping up its commitment to polio eradication, first phase of Pulse Polio Campaign for this year was launched by Commissioner Secretary Health & Medical Education Department Dr M K Bhandari at Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar Jammu.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhandari said that polio immunization campaign has ensured that no one suffers handicap due to this disease worldwide. He complimented all the participants of this campaign viz; health workers, dedicated officials, community members and parents in helping India reach and maintain its ‘polio free status’ for half a decade adding that we as a community cannot be complacent till every case of polio around the globe is dealt with.
More than 11,000 booths have been set up in the state with over 25 lakh doses being made available for the children. For this, about 45,000 workers from the health and allied departments have been primed, he added.Dr Bhandari appealed the parents to bring out their children up to 5 years of age for immunization against polio and stressed the importance of just two drops of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), in combating this crippling and potentially fatal disease - “Do Boond Zindagi Ke”. Dr Baldev informed that Jammu and Kashmir has achieved cent percent coverage during the polio immunization campaign last year and expressed strong confidence of continuing this streak this year also.
He said workshops, trainings and awareness campaigns are underway to equip the workers to make sure that no area is left uncovered in the state. He added that special attention is being paid to cover high risk areas like slum dwellings, construction sites during this polio immunization campaign.
The first phase, launched today, will continue till January 19, 2016 with day one being booth immunization and day two and three being allocated for door to door immunization. The second phase of polio immunization campaign is scheduled for February 21, 2016.Director Health Services Jammu Dr B S Pathania, Mission Director NHM Dr. Mohan Singh, Director Family Welfare J&K Dr. Baldev Sharma, Project Director JKSACS Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Chief Medical Officer Dr Robinder Khajuria, Medical Superintendent Dr Younis Choudhary among other dignitaries, officials and staff members were also present on the occasion.