Dikshit launches May phase of pulse polio immunisation campaign

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit launched the May phase of the pulse polio immunisation programme in the capital today by administering polio drops to children.

Ms Dikshit said during the April 2006 phase of programme, the government had immunised more than 26 lakh children.

''Only one case of polio was reported in last year and no fresh case has come up in the current year so far,'' she added.

The Chief Minister said it was also the responsibility of parents that no child below the age of five was left out from being immunised during the current phase, which will continue till May 26.

''It is the government's resolve to strengthen the routine immunisation and diseases surveillance to ensure that polio- virus is detected and responded to rapidly,'' she added.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri, who was present at the launch, said the new pulse polio round would have a special thrust on Jhugi Jhopdi clusters and unreached children.

''Under this campaign all the 57 Metro stations including six new metro stations within Dwarka sub city will be covered for transit population and transit teams would be linked for logistic support to local Assembly coordinator,'' he explained.

Four teams each in about 60 trains to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are deployed to cover children in transit in coordination with Northern Railways for six days, Mr Shastri said.

He said as a special initiative, of creating additional transit polio booths at religious places, six teams are deployed at the Akshardham Temple and to handle the situation well, about 1,400 more reserve staff would be posted at RVS.

This time, 60 new clinic of alternative system of medicine (ISM) would also provide Polio drops to the public.

Children below the age of five will be administered polio drops at various centres set up at hospitals, bus terminals, railway stations, schools and religious places in Delhi.

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