The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : `Migratory population vulnerable to polio attack'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 06, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

`Migratory population vulnerable to polio attack'

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, SEPT.5. Children of migratory population, particularly gypsies and construction workers, are posing a threat to health managers in the State since they remain vulnerable to polio attack, the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, P.K. Rajendran, said today.

Speaking at a `district polio plus orientation and planning workshop' jointly organised by the District Polio Plus Committee and the Directorate of Public Health here, he said health workers and voluntary agencies had been asked to focus more on urban slums where the migratory population often settled down.

"The sharp fall in the number of polio cases has only enhanced our responsibilities. We have to step up vigil and keep a watch on the vulnerable sections."

Health workers in the State had access to 62,190 villages/hamlets in the State, besides urban dwellings. "We have covered all areas though the accessibility to some pockets is not so easy. The Health Department is working closely with organisations like the Rotary International to achieve a polio-free status in Tamil Nadu."

However, there were problems such as a drop in routine immunisation coverage and lack of direct monitoring and supervision of routine immunisation programme at different levels, which the department was trying to rectify, he added.

In his address, the Surveillance Medical Officer, World Health Organisation, P. Rajasekarapandian, said the number of polio cases in India this year 46 was the lowest ever. The number of police cases reported during 1981-85 were 20,748 while it came down to 270 during 1996-2000.

Unlike the small pox vaccine, polio drops did not provide complete protection to the children. "There is always a susceptible group of children that does not develop the required resistance and remains vulnerable to polio attack. The risk increases when such susceptible mass accumulates."

Apart from this, many cases, particularly those living in remote areas and believe in faith healing, went unreported.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

87 persons selected for innovators awards

`Migratory population vulnerable to polio attack'

Chennai-Tirupati package tour most popular

Varsity to help rural colleges improve education quality

High Court Bench grants bail to clerk