HS Take Stock Of Ground Realities To Eradicate Polio In Chandigarh

By 121 News Reporter

Chandigarh 19^th January:-- National Immunization Days (NID) for vaccination against polio  are  being  observed in  Chandigarh  from 19^th January to 21^st January. Convergence  reaches its peak as international teams  concerned with polio eradication, also landed in Chandigarh for the same. World health Organization monitoring teams/other agencies have chipped  in to ensure 100%  coverage of all the children of 0-5 year of age during the first day of National Immunization Day (NID) January round 2014. Chandigarh has been polio  free since 2006, the last case of wild polio virus was detected in Chandigarh  from Mazdoor colony. However, later on no case of wild polio virus has been detected, inspite of the increasing no. of Acute Flaccid Paralysis cases  being reported in higher numbers, because of  stringent field surveillance and reporting in Chandigarh. At National Level, India has been able to remain  polio free since 13th  January 2011 successfully. However to attain, a polio eradication certification Govt. of India is holding NID/SNID(National/Sub national Immunization Day)  at  regular intervals till the agencies concerned declare India  to have successfully eradicated polio.

 In this regard,  National  Immunization  Days  (NID)    are  being  observed in whole  of the country w.e.f  19^th January to 21^st January. Anil Kumar, Secretary Health, while speaking at a booth in  EWS Colony Dhanas, expressed his gratitude  to the vaccinators  for their dedication and putting the Nation before self. He also said that the provision of better living conditions as has been done by the Chandigarh  Administration  by providing  pucca  accommodation at EWS Colony, Dhanas  to people previously  residing in slums, shall go a long way in decreasing incidence of illness, among the down trodden.

Dr.S. K Bhalla, Director Health Services, further, showed his concern that at this times any relaxation to eradicate polio can prove dangerous and shall increase the financial burden   on the country. Therefore, he along with other   senior officers from the Department of health appealed to the public to vaccinate the children during all the  future pulse polio rounds as shall be announced by the Govt. of India for the next 1-2 year at least. The crowd of the Tin Colony, Sector-52 was enthusiastic to get their children vaccinated to fight against polio.  Secretary Health vaccinated about fifty children at EWS Colony and Tin Colony.

The strict monitoring is being carried out by W.H.O. Also the rotary International team members could be seen working shoulder to shoulder with the teams from the health department at the ground level. Children in the High Risk Areas, roads,streets, nomads etc. are also  being covered. The house to house campaign shall be carried out to cover the left out children on 20,21st January 2014. Therefore, the Health Departments appeals to all the residents to cooperate for 100% success. Approx. 59000 nos. of children have been vaccinated on 19th January 2014 in Chandigarh.