Vigil stepped up after detection of polio cases

NAGPUR, JAN 16: After six suspected polio cases were detected in the Nagpur division, health authorities have stepped up surveillance as ...

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NAGPUR, JAN 16: After six suspected polio cases were detected in the Nagpur division, health authorities have stepped up surveillance as the second phase of the Pulse Polio immunisation drive is scheduled for January 17, Divisional Commissioner, Nagpur, J S Saharia said on Friday.

He was speaking to newsmen today at a press conference organised to provide details of the preparation of health authorities for the programme. Saharia said that the second phase which is to be held on January 17 being the last one at the end of the century, the health authorities have geared up to keep surveillance in rural areas and ensure that every child receives a dose of the Polio vaccine.

The Divisional Commissioner added that though the programme on January 17 was the last one of the Polio eradication drive undertaken all over the country for the past three years, more programmes could be undertaken in the division if required.

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According to the Divisional Commissioner, the Pulse Polio programme was a fine example ofhow a public interest programme implemented by the government bodies could succeed with the cooperation of people, Non-Governmental Organisations and social organisations. He urged citizens to once again cooperate and participate in the programme fully.

He also informed that a `Polio Rath’ had been mobile all over the division and has covered a distance of more than 5,500 kms so far. It would intensify the propaganda in Mouda tehsil till January 17.

Earlier, giving details of the programme, Deputy Director (Health) Dr M V Pandit told that an average 97 per cent children of the age group 0 to five years have been administered the first dose of the vaccine on December 6 and the second dose would be administered on January 17. According to the Deputy Director the health department has decided to widen the area of coverage for the vaccination programme. The department has included private practitioners and nursing homes for the same.

According to Pandit, the health department has been conducting intensifiedpulse polio drive in areas where Acute Flaccid Paralysis due to polio has been detected in children.

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The three-day drive includes administering polio vaccine to over one lakh population in the area adjoining to the place where polio case is detected. This year, more care would be taken in Mouda tehsil where three cases have been detected so far, he said. The Deputy Director told that similar immunisation drives are likely to be undertaken in March and October this year to achieve target of full eradication of polio by year 2000.