The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Survey to cover children left out of polio immunisation from today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Survey to cover children left out of polio immunisation from today

Staff Reporter

Random inspection for four days, to begin on May 20

ONLY FOR YOUR GOOD: Polio drops being administered to a child at Government Rajaji Hospital in the city on Sunday. Photo: S. James

MADURAI: The second round of Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign was carried out in the district on Sunday with the health administration proceeding with a target figure of administering the vaccine to 3.15 lakh children in the age group of 0-5 years. While the exact figure would be available on Monday, the authorities have made preparations for a door-to-door survey on May 16 and 17 to cover children left out of the Sunday exercise, and also a "dipstick" survey for four days from May 20.

The dipstick survey involves random inspection of houses in both urban and rural areas by the public health staff, that would complete the polio immunisation process in this round, said S. Shanmughasundaram, Deputy Director of Health Services.

He said all the busy and high-risk areas were thoroughly covered on Sunday by the staff on mobile booths. The Collector, D. Raajendiran, formally inaugurated the campaign at the Anaiyur health sub-centre where he administered the oral polio vaccine to children.

Dr. Shanmughasundaram said no complaints were received from anywhere in the district and the vaccine was available in adequate quantity at all the booths. He said the target figure would be achieved in the district like in the first round on April 10 when 3.10 lakh children were immunised. Health department officials monitored the immunisation process in all blocks.

1.21 lakh vaccinated

Over 1.21 lakh children were administered the vaccine in the city through 280 centres and mobile units.

The Corporation authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the purpose. The polio vaccine was administered to the children of street vendors from Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Besides, the officials had made special arrangements to benefit the commuting children at the Railway Station, bus stands and also at the places of worship, which would continue till May 17. More than 1,500 volunteers, including Corporation doctors, nurses, sanitary workers, nutritious meal staff, and voluntary organisations were involved in the exercise.

Earlier, Mayor C. Ramachandran, and Commissioner D.J. Dinakkaren inaugurated the programme at the Aruldosspuram Health Centre.

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Survey to cover children left out of polio immunisation from today