IMPHAL, 18 January: Health & Family Welfare Minister Phunzathang Tonsing administered polio drops to the attending children launching the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme today.
Directorate of family welfare services, Government of Manipur in association with State Health Society, Manipur organised the launching function of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme today at the premises of the family welfare services, Manipur.
The Minister who attended as chief guest of the launching programme said that polio immunization programme is for children of age 0 to 5 years. Polio is incurable it can only be prevented.
It was totally eradicated from India in the year 2014 but immunization programme carries on as our neighbouring country like Pakistan or other country like Nigeria still has this incurable disease at present.
Three day long IPPI programme is targeting to render its services to 334054 eligible children in all districts of the state with 3341 dedicated booths.
Family welfare services will also utilise 670 supervisors and 13364 vaccinators for the programme.
President of the function Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare J Suresh Babu, IAS said that children are our future and to protect them is our main agenda.
He said that small pox and polio are two dreaded diseases and fortunately these diseases are eradicated from India but need to have prevention measures as neighbouring countries still fighting to eliminate these diseases.
He lauded the contributions from the parallel NGOs for extending their services in process of immunization programmes.
The function was also attended by Director (Health)/SMD, (State Health Society) Manipur Dr O Ibomcha Singh and Director Family Welfare Services Dr K Rajo Singh as Guests of Honour.
Meanwhile, the 1st Phase of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) Programme for this year was also launched at various places of the Thoubal District today.
The programme has been officially launched with dignitaries providing polio drops to children at the DC Office Complex, Thoubal with Deputy Commission, Thoubal, Takhellambam Ranjit formally kicking off the campaign at the district.
As part of the campaign, health workers, nurses and anganwadi workers and helpers administered polio drops to children at various localities.
Chief Medical officer (Thoubal) Doctor S. Saratkumar Singh, Adhyaksha and Thoubal Zilla Parishad, Kh. Surnalata Devi and District Health Society and Thoubal Programme Manager, H. Rishikesh Sharma were also present at the launch function.
Health workers will administer polio drops to children through door-to-door campaign during the 2nd and 3rd phases of the campaign.
Our Bishnupur correspondent adds: For Bishnupur district the IPPI launch function was held at Bishnupur district hospital campus with DC Bobby Waikhom attending the programme as the chief guest, Chief Medical Officer Ng Hemantakumar as president and District Family Welfare Officer Dr Sarda Salam, retd Addl Director Femily Welfare Dept Dr W Gulapi and also Retd CMO Dr Kh Madhumangol as the guests of honour.