Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat and Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash launched the state-wide National Pulse Polio campaign by administering polio drops to the children at Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar here today.The Health and Family Welfare Department had made elaborate arrangements for administering the polio drops to the children across the State with a vast network of special booths set up at vital locations.Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister said that Polio campaign is the biggest ever movement against the dreaded disease in the country which has yielded incredible results. He said the Central and State Governments are doing a great job in containing this disease and such efforts will continue with the same spirit till the ailment is eradicated completely.Complimenting the doctors, paramedics and all those associated with the campaign, Bali said with the dedicated efforts of the entire department we would be able to achieve the objective of this flagship programme.
He hoped that everyone associated with this mission will meet his responsibility and try to reach upto the last corner of the State to administer the polio drops to the children.Asiea Naqash lauded the efforts of the department for successfully undertaking the State-wide campaign and complimented everyone associated with this noble cause. She called upon the doctors/paramedics to put in their best efforts to reach out to everyone to achieve the objective of this national campaign. She stressed the need for paying special attention in the far-flung and cut-off areas due to snowfall besides extending the campaign to ensure coverage of all children. She also called for an affective media campaign to educate the masses about this vital programme.Commissioner/Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari described the Polio Immunization as significant movement in the country and said that though the country has almost become polio-free, but still the efforts will continue to rule out even remote chances against this dreaded disease.
Giving details of arrangements put in place, he said that 19.58 lakh children will be covered under this State-wide campaign, for which, 11500 polio booths have been set up with deployment of 44,800 manpower.Director Family Welfare, J&K, Dr. Baldev Sharma informed that since 2010 no case of polio has been reported from any part of the State which is a very encouraging indicator. He briefed about the arrangements put in place to cover all difficult areas, particularly in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region. He said the department has also taken help of voluntary and social organizations by setting up polio booths at every strategic location including, bus stands, railway stations, work places to give coverage to the visitors from other States.Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Gurjit Singh Soodan, CMO, Jammu, Dr. Robinder Khajuria, Medical Superintendent, Gandhi Nagar Hospital, Dr. Madhuri Slathia, and large number of doctors and para-medics were present on the occasion.Later, the Speaker and Ministers inaugurated the newly constructed District Early Intervention Center developed a cost of Rs. 41 lakh in Gandhi Nagar hospital under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) of NHM.