Dimapur, March 11 (EMN): The annual vaccination programme against polio called the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) has begun in Nagaland. Various healthcare agencies and regional authorities entrusted with the task undertook vaccination camps across the state on Sunday.
Health agencies issued press releases offering updates about their activities related with the immunisation programme, stated to be the second of phases.
Mokokchung district
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District officers administer vaccine drops for polio during the immunisation camp.[/caption]
Mokokchung district gave its bit too for the campaign against polio virus. The healthcare authorities of the district launched the second phase of the IPPI drive across the region on Sun. Mar. 11. At the launch of the programme at Imlong Place in Mokokchung, the District Polio Officer Dr. Yanger gave a brief introduction about the IPPI.
Speaking during the occasion, the deupty commissioner of the district, Sachin Jaiswal, told the gathering said that there was ‘no recorded polio case in India but the bOPV vaccine is given to children below five years to retain polio free country as there are cases in the neighbouring countries and it might be imported through migration.’
The administrator urged the medical personnel to ensure ‘100% vaccine coverage of targeted children under IPPI’ by deploying adequate manpower, materials, and equipment to administer polio drops at the doorstep of citizens of the district.
The deputy commissioner launched the programme by administering the first vaccine drops to a child. 202 booths have been set up to immunize 9629 children, it was informed.
The authorities have informed that 8473 children were immunized during the first day of the campaign. House-to-house surveys and immunization activities would be undertaken on Mar. 12 and the 13th for “left out children.”
Dimapur
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Personnel of the 32nd Assam Rifles helping out during the IPPI.[/caption]
Likewise it was for Dimapur where the second round of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (Polio) was carried out on Sunday in the business district of the state.
On the 11th, 517 booths across the district will be set up to administer two drop polio of children between the ages of zero and five years, updates from the district’s healthcare authorities informed on Sunday. House to house polio vaccination will also be carried out during the rest of the week to immunize children who were missed in the day’s event. During the first round of the IPPI held in January, Dimapur district achieved 102% coverage, the updates informed.
Although in India, the last case of polio was recorded in 2011 and the country being declared Polio-Free since 2014, the government of India continues to launch anti-polio programs to “maintain the polio eradication from the country and India continues to maintain a strict polio surveillance system.”
Dr. K Vikato Kinimi, chief medical officer of Dimapur and Dr. Rebecca, district immunization officer, have expressed appreciation to all the medical staff and volunteers for their support; volunteers Anganwadi workers, Lion’s Club of Dimapur, Rotary Club of Dimapur; the 165th military division at Rangapahar, the Central Reserve Police Force, the 32nd Assam Rifle, and other individuals ‘for the constant co-operation and contribution towards sustaining polio eradication from the district.’
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A health agency, the Tuensang District Health Society (TDHS), also engaged in second round of the IPPI in all the eight blocks of the district. Updates from the organisation informed on Sunday that the immunisation programme was to cover an estimated 27,553 children below five years of age, it was informed.
In Tuensang Dr. Thungchanpeni Patton, district immunisation officer, administered the first polio vaccine drops at the Chaba School booth centre, the updates informed. The department has mobilised 1,250 vaccinators with 50 supervisors of the event. It has also organised 247 polio booths centre in the district, it added.
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The immunization campaign was conducted in Kohima district too on Sunday.
A press release informed that the IPPI had been a “regular activity with a goal to eradicate polio in the country.” India is free from polio since 2011 and the disease has been eradicated, the updates stated. Nonetheless, the health authorities have cautioned that ‘India remains at high risk till the whole world is free of wild polio virus.’ The country would be free from Polio with collective support from the citizen, the updates stated.
A target to immunise 37808 children aged five years and under has been set for Kohima district, it was informed. Four ‘mobile polio teams’ will be visiting transit points such as bus stations and taxi stands in the district for the next two days i.e., the 12th and 13th of March to immunise children, it was informed.
Besides district healthcare agencies , the Assam Rifles of the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (north) conducted a pulse polio drive at various locations across the state of Nagaland on Mar. 11. The security force set up medical camps and kiosks at its hospital locations and civil areas, a press release informed. The personnel held immunisation camps in Medziphema and Jalukie, Kiphire, and Dimapur and Zunheboto, it was informed. 3346 children including dependents of the security force were administered polio drops during the drive, it was informed.
In Wokha, the district’s health authorities informed that a total of 17590 children of the age zero to five years would be targeted for immunization. A press release from the district’s authorities informed that 160 polio booths, five transit teams, and one mobile team along with 30 supervisors, have been arranged for intensive monitoring and supervision to successfully carry out the programme. Health workers, transit team, and the supervisors will be visiting houses for “left outs” on Mar. 12 and the 13 in the urban and rural areas, the updates added.
