Arrangements in place for Pulse Polio campaign

Gadwal: The district administration of Jogulamaba Gadwal is making all arrangements for the second phase of Pulse Polio drive, to be held on March 11 in the district. The district administration has identified 73,959 children below the age of five years to be vaccinated in Gadwal district. For spreading awareness among the common public about pulse polio vaccination, the officials are planning to conduct a rally on March 10 in the district. 

While addressing a meeting of district officials at the Collector Meeting hall on Monday during a review on the preparations for the second phase of pulse polio programme in the district, District Collector Rajat Kumar Saini said every year the State is constantly focusing on eradication of polio virus and has been taking up the pulse polio vaccination drive in different phases. 

“As the government is committed to completely eradicating the polio from the State, it is the duty and responsibility of each and every individual to ensures that every child between 0- 5 years gets vaccinated. “We have more than 74,000 children in the district in the age group of 0 -5 years, of them nearly 500 children are found to have come and settled from other places. We have directed the Health Department to vaccinate each and every child during the three- day drive,” said the collector. 

As part of the second phase of Pulse polio vaccination drive the Health Department in coordination with various other departments is planning to open 461 centres in rural areas and another 410 in the urban areas and towns. In addition to this the Health Department is planning to put in place 11 mobile teams, who will be visiting the remote places and carry out vaccination. 

Overall more than 2,000 people from various departments, including Anganwadi teachers, Asha workers, ANMs, GNMs, various hospital staff etc are expected to take part in the 2nd phase pulse polio drive. The District Collector has instructed the Health Department that 90 per cent of vaccination drive should be completed on the 1st day on March 11. 

While during the next two days, ANMS, and Asha workers will go for a door-to-door vaccination programme on March 12 and 13 and ensure that each and every child is vaccinated.  While speaking on the occasion, Ms Sunita, District Medical and Health Official (DMHO). appraised the Collector of all the arrangements were put in place. 

“We have already procured the required vaccine and all necessary equipment for its safe storage. The vaccine vials have been properly packed and stored in deep freezers and cold box with ice packs,” said the DMHO.