SRINAGAR: Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, today underscored that every child under 5 years of age must be administered Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) on National Immunization Day (Pulse Polio) on March 3.
He said that India has maintained polio-free status since 2011 and to ensure that the country stays free of polio, all stakeholders must redouble their efforts. He called upon all stakeholders, including the general public to wholeheartedly participate in the National Immunization Day (NID) to ensure the maintenance of the polio-free status of the country and Jammu & Kashmir.
He made these remarks during the State Task Force meeting regarding National Immunization Day to discuss the planning & implementation of activities for Pulse Polio scheduled on the 3rd of March 2024 across Jammu & Kashmir.
The health department will administer OPV to all children in the age group of 0-5 in the arranged booths throughout the UT on the 3rd of March followed by house-to-house activity on the 4th and 5th of March while transit sites and special areas will be covered throughout the three days of the immunization programme. In Jammu and Kashmir, around 19 lakh children will be inoculated during the three days from March 3-5.
The meeting was attended by the Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, District Development Commissioners of J&K, Director of School Education Kashmir, Director of School Education Jammu, Director AYUSH J&K, Director Health Services, Jammu, Director of Health Services, Kashmir, Chief Medical Officers, State Immunization Officer, J&K, Deputy CMO’s of J&K, District Immunization Officers (DIOs) of J&K. All outstation officers attended the meeting via video conference.
Dr Abid Rasheed took a detailed review from every district about the preparations made and the steps taken by them for the NID activities among the target population, including the details of a number of booths, and vaccine availability in far-off places.
While chairing the meeting, the Secretary of Health & Medical Education said that maintaining polio-free status is a prime responsibility for all stakeholders. He said that effective implementation of the pulse polio immunization programme is necessary to safeguard our future generations from this disease.
He called upon all the concerned departments to ensure active indulgence and take leadership roles in making this immunization programme successful so that no eligible child is left behind without vaccination.
He said that some districts have peculiar geographical challenges and they should put in place a meticulous and in-depth plan in this regard. He said that slum areas brick kilns, construction sites, hard-to-reach areas and other vulnerable areas should be given utmost attention during the immunization day and proper surveillance must be maintained in such areas.
Secretary Health also directed the DIOs to maintain an adequate supply of vaccines at all locations while emphasising the criticality of cold chain maintenance.
He said that Chief Medical Officers/District Immunization Officers Shall ensure all vaccinators and supervisors have undergone orientation as and when required. He said that they should make supervisory visits to sub-district levels to review preparedness and monitor implementation.
He called upon the health department to continue to maintain a highly sensitive surveillance system for polio and any case of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in children is picked up by the polio surveillance network and properly investigated.
Secretary Health also highlighted the role of DCs in setting up transit booths at airports, bus stands, railway stations and other required locations in their respective districts. He asked DCs to conduct District Task Force meetings to ensure the effective implementation of the Polio round in the districts. They should also provide support to all departments in identifying and providing manpower at their disposal who can be trained as vaccinators, he said.
Secretary Health said that Intensive IEC and IPC regarding the campaign would be needed to create awareness and acceptance in the community for the Polio round and posters, banners, and pamphlets should be displayed at prominent places before pulse polio day. He said that there should be a massive social media buzz and playing of FM jingles regarding the immunization programme. He also said that the involvement of religious leaders will provide a valuable addition to our efforts and will go a long way in sending messages to the masses.
He also asked the Municipal Commissioners of both divisions to provide space for hoardings for the display of IEC at prominent locations in the twin cities and playing of jingles on all routes covered by municipal vans well in advance of the round describing the importance of polio vaccination to generate awareness amongst the masses.
He further said that healthcare workers who put in their efforts especially in hilly terrain or hard-to-reach areas during the immunization programme will be felicitated.
