Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation - 2017 was held in Puducherry on Sunday as part of the National Immunisation Day. The Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, Puducherry, administered polio drops to children between the age group of 0 and 5 years, including newborns.
A total of 448 polio booths were established across the Union Territory of Puducherry. Of which, 318 fixed booths were in Puducherry, 70 in Karaikal, 17 in Mahe and 21 in Yanam.
For focussing on the migrant and high risk population, sites have been identified this year and children between the age group of 0-5 years will be administered polio drops.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao inaugurated the intensified pulse polio immunisation programme at the primary health centre, Kosapalayam on Sunday.
Transit, border booths
Apart from fixed booths, transit booths were located at bus stand, railway station, Manakula Vinayagar Koil, Beach Road, Botanical Garden, Pothys and tourist spot Chunnambar Boat House at Ariyankuppam. Borders booths were also established on six borders namely Kurumapet, Kalapet, Madagadipet, Gorimedu, Kannikoil and Thirukkanur in Puducherry. These booths functioned from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A senior medical officer in the Directorate of Health and Family Services stated that polio vaccination was administered to all target children irrespective of previous vaccination, even if the child had already received oral polio vaccination (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccination (IPV).
House visits
In order to ensure that all target age children are immunised, the health team will conduct house-to-house visits and administer polio drops to the dropout children in the first round on April 3 (Monday), April 4 (Tuesday) and the second round on May 1 and May 2 (Tuesday). The teams will also visit the schools both government and non-government to immunise the dropout children.
Control rooms have been established in Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Indira Gandhi Medical College, Kadirkammam, Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital, Ellaipillaichavady and Immunisation Officer, Health Directorate, Puducherry.
The Health Department of Puducherry has the target of administering polio drops to 91,500 children in two phases – April 2 and 30. They have appealed to the people to ensure that the children receive the ‘two drops of life’ on April 30, 2017.
Non-governmental organisations such as Rotary Club of Pondicherry Heritage and other partners and community leaders participated in the programme.
