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Next phase of polio drive launched

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JAN. 3. The Delhi Government is all geared up for the next phase of the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme (PPIP) that will be organised in the Capital tomorrow (Sunday). The Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, formally launched the programme on Saturday by administering pulse polio drops to several children below five years at her official residence.

Former captain of the Indian cricket team, Kapil Dev, was the chief guest at the function that was attended by the Delhi Health and Family Welfare Minister, Yoganand Shastri, and senior representatives from the World Health Organisation, the United Nations International Children and Education Fund, senior health officials and members of NGOs working in the health sector.

Expressing satisfaction that only three polio cases were reported in the Capital last year and not a single polio case had been found during the past 10 months, Ms. Dikshit said a total of 24 cases were reported in 2002. "This remarkable success in controlling polio cases has become possible due to the continuous efforts of the field staff and with the active support and cooperation of the people. We not only have to maintain this zero level of polio cases but also ensure that this dreaded disease does not resurface in the Capital as well as the entire nation."

Exhorting media to play an important role in the drive, Kapil Dev said media should widely propagate the motive behind the pulse polio drive. He also called on the entire society to come forward to make this welfare programme a huge success.

Giving details about the programme, Dr. Shastri said over 7,500 pulse polio centres had been opened in hospitals, dispensaries, schools, community centres, nursing homes and private institutions. Besides, mobile teams would cover slum areas and construction sites while 65 additional teams would be deployed at transit points like railway stations, bus terminals, airport, entertainment centres, on inter-state borders. All these centres would operate between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and manned by over 25,000 employees.

According to Dr. Shastri, the drive was not only aimed at further strengthening immunity in children against polio but to totally eradicate polio virus so that future generations were not affected by this deadly disease. Pulse polio drops were completely safe and all the nations, except six including India, had already become polio-free by adopting the strategy of administering pulse polio drops, he added.

The Delhi Health Minister informed that all publicity media including traditional, print and electronic had been used to spread the message about the drive. Besides several corporate, private institutions and non-governmental organisations had been extending their support to it, he added.

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