JAMMU, JANUARY 28 (KNO) : Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today kick started the first round of National Pulse Polio Campaign-2018 from Government Hospital Sarwal by administering polio drops to children.
Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Ms Asiea Naqash, Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal were also present on the occasion.
A model Pulse Polio camp was organized by the Department of Family Welfare in the premises of Sarwal Hospital, wherein hundreds of children below the age of 5 years were administered the doses of pulse polio. The authorities had made elaborate arrangements to cater to the huge rush of parents who visited for administering the polio drops to their children.
Speaking on the occasion, Bali Bhagat said that though the State has become free from polio since 2010, but the Government does not want to take any chance and the campaign against this dreaded disease will continue till its total eradication from the world over. He said in our neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China still there are reports of detection of some cases of Polio, hence there will be no let up in our efforts to prevent this virus in any part of the State, he asserted.
Appreciating the efforts of the Department in reaching out to every individual for this great cause, the Minister said that all those associated with this noble campaign have done commendable job during the past over some years and ensured hundred percent coverage in most difficult pockets of the State, that’s why we have not heard about a single case for the past some years. He, however, called upon the authorities to monitor the situation with all seriousness and ensure 100% coverage in all pockets.
Elaborating details of the campaign, Bali said that 19,31,521 children upto the age of 5 years will be administered Polio drops across the State during the campaign. For this purpose, the department has set up a network of 11,527 booths (5546 in Jammu and 5981 in Kashmir Divisions).
Asiea Naqsh in her brief address described the Polio Campaign as a festival and congratulated the functionaries of the Family Welfare and all those who are closely associated with this pious campaign. She said it is because of the hard and dedicated efforts of the employees and various social organizations that a complete eradication of this dreaded virus has been ensured. She called for a sustained awareness campaign to educate the masses, especially those belonging to the marginal sections of the society to ensure vaccination to their wards definitely to secure their future.
Pawan Kotwal highlighted the efforts of the State Government to make the State Polio free like other parts of the country. He said Government flags this campaign as high priority to ensure that every single individual child is provided this most precious vaccine to secure his/her future. He also appealed the parents to spare their time and bring their children for this important vaccination to secure them against such dreaded diseases.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Director Family Welfare, J&K, Dr. Sameer Mattoo, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Gurjeet Singh Soodan, Mission Director, ICDS, Mr. Sofi, Deputy Director Health (HQs), Dr. Chander Prakash, Chief Medical Officer, Jammu, Dr. Sanjay Turki, Medical Superintendent, Sarwal Hospital, Dr. Renu Sharma, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Dr. Rajiv Sharma, doctors and staff of Sarwal Hospital, besides prominent citizens and members of social organizations.(KNO)