DIMAPUR, JANUARY 16 (MExN): Nagaland, along with other states in India will launch the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) drive on January 19.
A communiqué from the State Immunisation Officer, Dr Ritu Thurr informed that India has remained free of wild polio cases since January, 2011 and India's unprecedented progress against polio had led to certification by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in March, 2014.
It however said that India remains at high risk of importation till the whole world is free of the wild polio virus. “As per the recommendations of the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) on Polio, NIDs are to be conducted covering all the children in the age group 0-5 years of age using bOPV,” the communiqué stated.
In tune with this, the Nagaland State Department of Health & Family Welfare is all geared up to administer Polio drops to all eligible children from 0-5 years throughout the state.
The drive will be conducted in 2274 Polio booths to be manned by 9096 health personnel and 441 supervisors along with vaccines and other logistics. Special focus will be given to migrant population with an aim to prevent importation of Polio cases.
While thanking everyone for their past cooperation, the department appealed to all sections of the society, agencies (government, non government, including the security forces and police), organizations, churches, community leaders and especially parents of children below 5 years of age to come forward and ensure that all eligible children receive their Polio drops on Sunday, January 19.
“Lets us together gift our children a Polio Free World,” it urged.
