A massive rally was organised in Jagdalpur on Saturday to create awareness among the people to participate in the second round of the intensive pulse polio immunisation programme which will begin in Bastar district on Sunday.
The rally started at Maharani Hospital at 9 am and travelled across the town. While the achievement was hundred per cent during the first round of campaign, the health department has targeted to administer polio drops to 1,22,525 kids during the second round of campaign. Joint Director Health Dr RN Pandey and eye specialist Dr PN Kothari flagged off the rally from Maharani Hospital on Saturday. Those who participated in the rally include health staffs, mid wives, ANMs, nurses and students of nursing institute.
District Immunisation officer Dr C Maitri said children up to the age group of five would be immunised under the campaign. The administration has set up 477 booths in the district, of them 80 in urban area. At least 95 supervisors, 1908 immunisation workers, 40 mobile teams, 24 transit teams have been engaged to make the immunisation programme successful.
During the latest campaign, children would also be immunised at the markets, fare, railway stations, bus stands, construction sites, brick kilns, hazardous area and in other places, he said. He said during last three years not a single case of polio has been reported in India. What is the matter of grave concern is that polio cases were however reported in seven countries including in the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Uganda, he said.
This was the reason why on January 19 about 1,23,249 additional children against the target were administered polio drops. The aim of the second phase immunisation drive was to ensure that the children develop enough immunity, he said.