Himachal Pradesh Health Department today began the first drive of Pulse Polio Programme in this year administrating the vaccine to as many as 6,74,240 small children in the State. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh launched the first phase of Pulse Polio programme-2017 from Nalagarh in district Solan today by administering Oral Polio drops to small children.
The Chief Minister directed the health officials to make sure that every child between 0-5 year age group be surely administered Oral
Polio Vaccine (OPV). He said that though our Country and the State is polio free but sustained efforts should be made to keep every child
away from the dysfunction. An eye should be kept on floating and migratory population, especially in border areas and industrial belts of the State and to administer polio drops to their children as well.
Himachal was declared polio free in the year 2009 and last case was reported in Nalagarh area. As per Health Officials, total of 6,74,240 Children in the 0-5 year age group administered OPV in the first phase launched on Sunday and it will continue till 31st January, 2017. As many as, 5876 Booths have been set up in the state for the purpose and 23482 officials of various departments have been engaged in the
process.
Instructions have been issued to transport authorities to direct drivers of state owned buses and private operators to stop at bus
stands and on designated road side Polio booths, so that children traveling may be administered polio vaccine. Similarly officials of
industries department have been directed to cover labor colonies for the purpose. The second phase will be held from 2nd April, 2017 to 4th April, 2017.
