5.32L children to be given drops in Punjab: Minister

Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 1

The three-day pulse polio campaign launched by the state government will target 5.32 lakh children across the state. For this, a total of 8,436 locations have been identified.

This was stated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu while launching the campaign by administering polio drops to children at a state-level function held at a government dispensary at Sohana village.

Only high-risk areas to be covered

Due to the Covid pandemic, the campaign would cover only high-risk areas, migrant population, brick-kilns, construction sites, slums and settlements, he said.

Balbir Singh Sidhu said a total of 4,180 door-to-door medical teams had been formed to make the campaign a success. As many as 559 mobile teams had also been deployed for the purpose. A total of 21,143 vaccinators and 802 supervisors had been deployed to monitor the campaign. In addition to this, 2,734 ANMs, 7,696 anganwari workers, 8,965 ASHA workers and 2,143 other workers would also contribute to make the campaign a success.

Director Health Services Dr Manjeet Singh appealed to people to give full support to the Health Department.

Civil Surgeon DR GB Singh, state immunization officer Dr Balwinder Kaur, district immunisation officer, Mohali, Dr Veena Jarewal, village panchayats and other health officials were also present on the occasion.

Campaign kicks off at Panchkula

Panchkula: The Panchkula Civil Surgeon, Dr Jasjeet Kaur, on Sunday launched the polio campaign at an anganwadi centre in Ashiana Colony, Sector 20, by administering anti-polio drops to children. The drive is to last till November 3. "High-risk areas such as brick-kilns, industrial areas, construction sites, stone-crushing and mining areas, slums where mostly migrant population reside will be covered," she said.