One lakh kids targeted for anti-polio drive

He added, “The problem is mainly with the elite, who do not turn up for the dose, thinking they will have it administered later on. They fail to understand the importance of simultaneous administration of polio drops to destroy the virus. In the first phase, there was a good response from the people in villages.”

Some of the booths have already been supplied with the polio vaccine to minimise the rush on January 17. The remaining booths will get the vaccine boxes on the same day.

As many as 265 booths have been set up in villages, colonies and various Sectors. Every booth will have a Sector officer and four para-medical men. Besides, 50 mobile teams have been deployed, which will cover the places where booths cannot be set up, as at marriage parties, construction sites, barriers etc.

“By the year 2000 we will be able to eradicate polio if kids all over the country have been immunized simultaneously,” said Dr. Singla. An international commission from the World Health Organisation (WHO) will assess the success of the polio immunisation programme in order to declare India a polio-free country.

Panchkula: Over 44,000 children below the age of five years have been targeted under the fourth polio immunization campaign.

As many as 275 posts will be set up, including 37 in urban areas of Panchkula district. In addition to the Health Department’s six vehicles, a requirement for 28 more vehicles has been projected.

Three colonies in Panchkula – Rajiv Colony, Indra Colony and Azad Colony – have been identified as high risk pockets.

In addition to the immunization programme, three mop-up drives will also be conducted in March, April and October this year in high risk areas showing evidence of polio virus transmission.

High risk areas include slums with high density of population and unsanitary conditions and areas with high rate of population migration.