Himachal CM launches Pulse Polio programme

Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, today launched the Pulse Polio campaignby administering polio drops to children upto five years old, at the Holly Lodge, Shimla.
Launching the campaign, Singh said that Himachal had already been declared polio-free in 2009 and the last case of polio was reported in the state was of a migrant labour child at Nalagarh.
He further said that Himachal has added another feather to its cap by emerging as top state in India with over 82 per cent of fully immunized children.
He said his government was working consistently towards Mission Indradhanush to achieve 100 per cent immunization coverage in the state.

On introduction of Pentavalent and Rota vaccines, the Chief Minister said the state government had introduced both the vaccines in its immunization program to prevent children from falling prey to pneumonia and diarrhoea.
The Pentavalent vaccine has been a part of vaccination programme since September 2015 whereas Rota vaccine was started in Kangra district in December 2015, making it the first district in the entire country to start this programme, he noted.

More than one lakh children would benefit from the immunization and other health programmes initiated by the State Government, he claimed.
Singh said that the second phase of pulse polio drive would be carried out on February 21, 2016 and it would happen simultaneously in all 12 districts.

As many as 5895 booths, had been set up and 220 mobile teams have been stationed at 117 transit points such as bus terminus and railway stations to cover 7 lakh children in the state.
Nearly 22,000 workers including ANMs, Anganwari and Asha workers would join hands to administer two drops of polio vaccine to the targeted children, he added.