J-K: Doda Deputy Commissioner inaugurates Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign at govt hospital
Doda, June 28
Deputy Commissioner Doda Krishan Lal on Sunday inaugurated the Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign at the Associated Hospital, Govt Medical College Doda, reaffirming the district administration's commitment to achieving complete polio immunisation coverage.
The inaugural programme was attended by Chief Medical Officer Doda, Dr. Vinod Sharma, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr SL Manhas, Block Medical Officer Ghat, Dr. Abdul Gafoor, Deputy Medical Superintendent, GMC Doda, Dr Irfan Tasaduq, along with officers and officials of the Health Department.
Speaking to ANI, the Deputy Commissioner informed that 57,524 children in the 0-5-year age group will be covered under the district-wide campaign. He said that 507 vaccination booths have been established across the district, supported by 1,014 vaccination teams and 101 supervisors to ensure smooth and effective implementation of the programme.
"There are approximately 507 Pulse Polio booths with around 2,200 employees deployed, along with mobile teams. Hard-to-reach areas have been identified, and special arrangements have been made to administer polio drops to children there," he added.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the National Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign across the union territory, he further stated that the first day of the campaign is dedicated to booth-based immunisation, while the subsequent two days will focus on house-to-house visits to vaccinate children who may have missed the booth sessions.
"The target is to cover over 1,500 children, with a follow-up house-to-house visit scheduled for those missed. The campaign is crucial as a precaution against polio, given its presence in neighbouring countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, even though India has not reported any cases since 2011," the Deputy Commissioner added.
The Deputy Commissioner also appealed to all parents and guardians to ensure that every child below five years of age receives the two drops of Oral Polio Vaccine, emphasising that no eligible child should be left behind in the mission to keep Doda and the nation polio-free.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Really appreciate the focus on hard-to-reach areas and house-to-house visits. That's how you ensure no child is left behind. My parents still tell me stories of how polio affected families in their time—so grateful for campaigns like this!
While I support the polio campaign wholeheartedly, I wish the government would put similar energy into fixing primary healthcare in rural areas. We need consistent medical care, not just during campaigns. Still, good to see this being taken seriously.
The numbers are impressive—57,524 children, 507 booths, 2,200 employees deployed. It's heartening to see such coordination in a challenging terrain like Doda. My cousin is a health worker there and says the team spirit is amazing! 💪
Remember when polio was a dreaded word in Indian households? Now we're running campaigns to keep it that way. Shoutout to all health workers who trudge through difficult terrain to reach every child. Truly unsung heroes. 🇮🇳
Good step but we need to focus on other vaccines too—like measles, rubella, and tetanus. Polio is important, but child health is multi-dimensional. Hope the district extends this efficiency to routine immunisation as well.
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