As many as 86,307 children below five years of age were administered polio drops in the two days sub-national immunisation round campaign in Chandigarh starting September 21.
A spokesperson of the UT Administration said that as per the directions of Union Government, the sub-national immunisation round was observed in UT Chandigarh. In the sub-national immunisation round (SNID), more than 1,600 health workers including 70 sector supervisors and 15 area supervisors worked in teams to immunise all the children in 0-5 years of age group in high risk areas along with the children on the roads, streets, beggars etc.
No case of polio has been reported from Chandigarh (UT) since 2006. The last case of wild poliovirus was detected in Chandigarh from Mazdoor Colony. However, later on, no case of wild polio virus has been detected, in spite of the increasing number of Acute Flaccid Paralysis cases being reported in higher numbers, said the spokesperson.
The workers of UT Health Department, UT Social Welfare Department, NSS volunteers and local volunteers from the city were deployed for administering the Polio vaccine to children from 0-5 year age in Chandigarh.
Dr VK Gagneja, Director Health Services, District Family Welfare Officer and District Immunisation Officer joined the teams at grass root level to continue the fight against polio in the country and for its eradication.
During the last day of the SNID, Dr VK Gagneja said, that India’s achievements in stopping polio will save hundreds of thousands of children from lifelong paralysis or death each year.
The efforts of all the departments and the public participation were appreciated by UT Director Health and Family Welfare with an appeal to continue the routine immunisation for all the children.