94% of pulse polio immunisation targets achieved in Ganderbal

Ganderbal, Mar 3: Amid the inclement weather and snowfall, vaccination workers managed to achieve about 94% of the target to inoculate children under the age of 5 years under the pulse polio immunisation drive held Sunday in Ganderbal district.

Amid heavy snowfall, health workers carried out polio vaccination in several areas of Ganderbal district particularly snow bound places including Gagengar, Kullan, Gund, Haknar, Sumbal, Surfraw, Wangath where the immunisation booths were set up to administer polio vaccine to children.

Chief Medical Officer, Ganderbal Dr Afroza Shah who was personally supervising the pulse polio immunisation drive in district, told Greater Kashmir that a workforce of over 940 vaccinators including Health workers, Asha, Angawari workers and other supporting staff were assigned and involved in the immunisation drive. CMO Ganderbal informed that a total of 46689 children would be administered pulse polio drops in the whole Ganderbal area. She added that 234 pulse polio booths have been set up across the district for hassle free implementation of the campaign.

Moreover 5 transit booths and 4 mobile booths have also been established by the department for the effective and successful implementation of the programme so that there are no children left out. " Out of a total 46689 children under the age of 5 years , about 43673 children were covered. We had set up 234 vaccination booths in Ganderbal district from Pandach upto Sonamarg area besides 5 transit points were also established in the district for the convenience of people, " CMO said. “Special occasions need special commitment and health teams are showcasing the will and commitment to ensure each child is given polio vaccine in these difficult and cold winter conditions," she added.

Meanwhile, earlier the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Shyambir inaugurated the Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) Programme at District Hospital Ganderbal. DC started the campaign by administering polio drops to newborn infants in the presence of CMO Ganderbal Dr Afroza Shah; DIO Ganderbal Dr Bushra Yousuf; BMO Ganderbal Dr Andleeb Bashir, I/C Medical Superintendent DH Ganderbal and other officers and officials.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said that special teams have been deputed to far flung areas of Ganderbal also to ensure complete immunisation of the children. He stressed upon the concerned officers to ensure coverage of the target population of the children below 5 years of age under the pulse polio programme. He also directed them to conduct a fool proof door to door survey to ensure cent percent coverage.

The IPPI inaugural programmes were held at SDH Kangan, and all block Headquarters along with launch and administration of Oral Polio Vaccines across all the established booth centres.