Dimapur, Jan 25. (EMN): Nagaland, along with other states in India, would launch the first round of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) on January 28 (Sunday).
The department of health and family welfare is all geared up to administer polio drops to over 2.3 lakhs eligible children from 0-5 years throughout the state in 2274 polio booths to be manned by 9096 health personnel and 455 supervisors along with vaccines and other logistics.
Informing this, Dr. N Bendangyanger Jamir, principal director of health and family welfare, stated that special focus would be given to migrant population with an aim to prevent importation of polio cases.
India has remained free of wild polio cases since January 2011 and India’s unprecedented progress against polio has led to certification of south east region including India by WHO in March 2014. India remains at high risk of importation till the whole world is free of wild polio virus. As per the recommendations of the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) on Polio, NIDs are to be conducted covering all the children in the age group 0-5 years of age using bOPV.
While thanking everyone for their past cooperation, the principal director has appealed all sections of the people, agencies (government and non government including the security forces and police), organisations, churches and community leaders and especially parents of children below 5 years to come forward and ensure that all eligible children receive the “Two drops of life” on January 28.
For any further information, he has asked all concerned to contact the nearest health centre or the chief medical officer/ district programme officer (RCH & UIP) of their respective district.
“Lets us together gift our children a polio free world,” he appealed.
In a related statement, the chief medical officer of Dimapur, Dr. K Vikato Kinimi has informed that the first round of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) in Dimapur district would be held on January 28. He has requested all parents to bring their children aged 0-5 years to the nearest polio booth in their locality for Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) starting from 7 AM to 3 PM onwards. The department also appealed to all concerned citizens to mobilise children to avail the polio drops. Meanwhile, the department has acknowledged the constant support and co-operative from the public for successfully implement the programme.
In a separate statement, DPO RCH & UP Mokokchung, Dr. Temsuyanger has informed all the parents to take their children between 0-5 years to receive polio drops on that day to the nearest IPPI booth. He also made a clarion call to the people to cooperate with the health workers and volunteers on the occasion to make this endeavour a success.
