To make Pulse Polio Immunization Campaign on 20th January 2013 successful, Health and Family Welfare department has set up 5853 booths throughout the State. Ali R. Rizvi, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare urged parents to take out their children in the age group of 0-5 years to these booths.
Rizvi said that it will be booth and House-to House activity on subsequent 2nd and 3rd days to cover all the left out children. He said that in all parts of Himachal Pradesh it would be mainly booth based activities on first day and House-to House activity on the subsequent days till all the left out children were administered polio drops. He said that approximately seven lakh children would be administered the polio drops. Each booth shall be manned by four persons, two technical persons from Health and Ayurvedic Department and rest two will be deployed from other departments, he added.
Principal Secretary said that polio eradication campaign was social mobilization which could only be achieved by cooperation and wholehearted support of all government and Non Government Organizations and full community participation by involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Mahila Mandals and Mahila Swasthya Sangh and Social Workers etc. He urged to sensitize the people about the importance of Pulse Polio Immunization Campaign and ensure that no child in the age group of 0-5 years of age was left uncovered.
He further added that the children of Gaddi and Gujjar tribes should be given polio drops at the Forest Check Posts whenever they cross over these Check Posts. Special arrangements have also been made at Temple premises, major tourist destinations, industrial clusters and major bus stands for administration of the polio drops, he added.