ITANAGAR, Mar 10: National Immunisation Day was launched across the state on Sunday under the Department of Health and Family Welfare to immunize children against the polio virus.
The intense three-day programme aims to administer two drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to all children under the age of five years.
According to reports, the activity was carried out in 2905 booths in the state, wherein 77801 children were mobilized and vaccinated with OPV.
Till the filing of this report, the state achieved 52 percent of its total target on the first day.
The teams will continue the activity for two more days through house to house approach, wherein children that have been left out
during the booth day will be administered the polio vaccine.
In East Siang district, 5854 children out of 6,999 targeted children were immunized in the district.
DMO Dr Kaling Dai informed that a two-day house survey cum immunization will be conducted for children that have been left-out.
DC cum chairman of the District Health Society, Dr Kinny Singh launched the programme by administering polio drops to a child at the Bakin Pertin General Hospital in Pasighat in presence of DMO Dr M Perme, MS Dr YR Darang, DRCHO Dr T Gao and paramedical staff.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC asked officials to ensure 100 percent vaccine coverage of the targeted children under IPPI with adequate deployment of men, materials and equipment at the doorstep of citizens in the district, while instructing the DMO to constantly monitor the performance.
She underscored the importance of paramedical staff and citizens in such programmes, and said their active participation and coordinated efforts could dramatically improve the immunization percentage.
The day was observed in Tawang district with 115 polio booths in compliance with a micro plan prepared by the district immunisation cell of Tawang.
During the programme, pulse polio oral drops were administered to children between 0-5 years of age.
Tawang DC Sang Phuntsok took part in the immunisation programme, along with officers and jawans from 38th Bn SSB, DMO Dr Wangdi Lama and DRCHO Dr Lobsang Tempa at the polio booth in old market area, installed by the 38th Bn SSB.
The 305 FD Hospital of the Indian Army took active participation at Khirmu FD Hospital during the immunisation programme. An immunisation team for interior and snow-bound areas like Mago, Lugu-Thang and Thik-shi village were dispatched a day ahead with all necessary equipment to keep the vaccine safe, informed the DRCHO.
The DMO said that the target this time is to vaccinate 4,860 children between 0-5 years of age in the entire district.
“We shall leave no stone unturned to achieve our goal to make the country polio free,” the DMO added. (DIPRO)
