CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is making every possible effort to secure the health of it's future citizens, in one such step Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr.Balbir Singh launched a three-day pulse polio campaign at Community Health Centre Tripuri in Patiala on Sunday. After administering oral polio vaccine drops to children, Dr. Balbir Singh while addressing a gathering on the occasion, said his government was making all efforts to protect children from diseases.
He emphasized that vaccines under the programme must reach each and every targeted beneficiary to ward off this dreadful disease. " Our country is already polio-free, however, the vaccination was a must to sustain this status as there is danger of importation of Polio virus from our neighbouring countries which are still polio endemic." he added.
The Health Minister informed that this Sub National Immunization Day (SNID) Pulse Polio round will be conducted from 10th December 2023 to 12th December 2023 in 12 districts (Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fazilka, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mansa, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Moga, Pathankot, Patiala, SBS Nagar, and Tarn Taran) of Punjab.
The high-risk areas comprising migrant populations such as brick kilns, construction sites, slums, and settlements will be in focus. The Minister said although the health teams will be visiting house to house during the campaign for vaccinating each child but I appeal to all the parents/guardians of children below the age of five years to provide the drops of polio vaccine by taking their child to the nearest polio booth so that no child is missed out of this vaccination drive.
Deputy Commissioner Patiala Sakshi Sawhney also assured that she has directed all the stakeholder departments to make cumulative efforts to ensure success of this vaccination drive. On this occasion Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr. Hitinder Kaur stated that all logistics are in place for the success of this drive and the health department has deputed approximately 25000 personnel including ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, ANMs etc.
For vaccination of 14,75,878 children of upto the age of five years in 12 districts of Punjab.She further informed that Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance has also been strengthened as each case of AFP acts as a signal to the polio surveillance system where polio is circulating and who it is likely to affect.
IMA President Dr. Bhagwant Singh, Civil Surgeon Patiala Dr. Raminder Kaur, State Immunization Officer Dr. Balwinder Kaur, SMO WHO Dr. Vikram Gupta and District Immunization Officer Dr. Gurpreet Kaur were also present during the launch ceremony.