Lakhs of children administered polio vaccine across Jammu Division on day one

JAMMU, MARCH 03: With the resolve to wipe out polio from the Country, the polio immunization for 0 to 5 year old children commenced today across Jammu Division under the 3- day Nationwide ambitious Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) drive.

On the First day children were administered polio drops at booths, while a door-to-door campaign would be conducted for the next 2 days to cover the left out kids. 

AT REASI: District Development Commissioner Vishesh Mahajan inaugurated the Intensified Pulse Polio Programme (IPPI) at Government High School Gair Mari in Reasi.

DDC stressed the importance of the program, stating that no child should be left unvaccinated. He highlighted that polio drops are being administered at booth levels, while a door-to-door campaign will be conducted on the 4th and 5th of March to ensure all children are covered. He informed that 12 mobile teams have been constituted to reach areas without booths. Approximately 53,589 children aged 0-5 years across the district will receive polio drops. To facilitate this, 387 polio booths have been established in the district.

AT KATHUA: Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Ranjit Singh, inaugurated the Pulse Polio Immunization Drive by administering polio drops to children here at the Government Mahatma Gandhi Child and Maternity Hospital.

The 3-day Pulse Polio Immunization Drive will cover 101,534 children in the district for which the administration has established 580 booths, the ADC informed.

He highlighted that as many as 7 mobile teams, 20 transit teams, and 129 supervisory staff, along with the support of teachers have been deployed to ensure comprehensive coverage, especially in identified High-Risk Areas.

AT DODA: Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) program took off at the Sub District Hospital (SDH) Bhaderwah. DDC Chairman, Dharanter Singh Kotwal, alongside Tehsildar and BMO, inaugurated the program.

Notably, the DDC Chairman took the initiative to personally administer the pulse polio immunization drops to children, emphasizing the importance of the vaccination drive.

AT RAJOURI: District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Om Prakash Bhagat inaugurated  the three-day Pulse Polio Programme in the district, underlining its critical role in the eradication of polio.

The Health Department has undertaken the ambitious task of administering Oral Polio Vaccine to an estimated Ninety thousand Children at 647 vaccination booths.

Backed by a robust infrastructure, including 2588 team members and 125 supervisors overseeing operations, the program is meticulously planned to ensure comprehensive coverage.   This initiative is further bolstered by the establishment of 12 transit points and a targeted focus on 32 high-risk areas within the district.

DDC underscored the paramount importance of this initiative, emphasizing the unwavering commitment of the district administration to safeguarding children from the debilitating effects of polio.

AT KISHTWAR: As a part of the Nationwide Pulse Polio Immunization Drive, as many as 27,999 children aged 0-5 years, out of total 38,336 were successfully vaccinated across Kishtwar District achieving an impressive 73 percent coverage on the first day.

The success unfolded through 370 Polio Immunization booths and 2 transit camps, strategically positioned, including Kishtwar Bus Stand and Chatroo Bus Stand. As many as 11 Mobile teams, 1480 Manpower, and 74 supervisors worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth execution of the immunization drive.

The drive’s momentum will continue with House-to-House immunization activities on March 4th and 5th, 2024, aimed at addressing any remaining gaps as part of mop-up rounds.

The initiative was officially launched from the District Hospital Kishtwar by the Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Devansh Yadav in presence of key figures, including CMO Kishtwar Dr. Rajinder Kumar, BMO Dr. Sat Lal Manhas, Dy CMO Dr. Balbir Kumar, MS DH Kishtwar Dr. Yudveer Singh Kotwal, and DIO Dr. Sajjad Hussain.

AT RAMBAN: A commendable achievement was recorded in Ramban district, where 45,194 children received polio vaccine on day-one despite adverse weather conditions. The number represents approximately 79% of the targeted 57,288 children in the 0-5 age group.

Baseer ul Haq Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner of Ramban, lauded the frontline workers of the health department, supported by ICDS (Poshan), emphasizing that the health care of the district remains a top priority.

PO ICDS, Jahangir Hashmi, informed that the vaccine was provided at 444 vaccination booths across the district’s four medical blocks of Gool, Ukhral, Batote, and Banihal. Additionally, a dedicated team of 1,776 members and officials, supported by 87 supervisors, diligently executed the drive to ensure its efficiency and success.

Earlier in the day, the District Development Council Chairperson, Dr. Shamshad Shan, inaugurated the IPPI program at the District Hospital   Ramban, accompanied by Dr. Kamal Jee Zadoo, the Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Virender Trisal, the Medical Superintendent.

Sub-divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars also spearheaded IPPI drives in their respective areas.