CM launches another leg of Pulse Polio Campaign

New Delhi, Feb 10 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today launched another round of Pulse Polio Campaign in the national capital by administering anti-polio drops to a number of children at the Secretariat here.

Speaking on the occasion, she said the city was all set to successfully undertake Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme tomorrow.

Ms Dikshit expressed confidence that Delhi would continue to be a polio-free State.

However, the only threat in this regard was from certain neighboring states that contributed substantially to the huge migration of people into the national capital, she added.

In addition to this floating population that came to Delhi everyday in connection with employment and other works could also be responsible for cases of polio in Delhi, she further said.

''Last year around, 300 cases of polio were detected in different parts of the country which is also becoming cause of concern for the Delhi government.'' The chief minister said the state government was trying to ensure that no polio virus entered national capital territory.

''For making a strong nation, we must have strong children, which would only be possible with the success of Pulse Polio Programme.'' ''Our state has shown better results in this field. Being a pioneer in the Pulse Polio Programme Delhi is regarded a role model and it will continue to strive to eliminate polio completely.'' Ms Dikshit complimented health department officials for their efforts.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri, who also administered polio drops to children, expressed gratitude to Rotary Club and other NGOs for making Pulse Polio Campaign a success in Delhi.

Dr Shastri said 7,500 polio booths would be established tomorrow to administer polio vaccine to lakhs of children up to five years.

Around 30,000 health department employees would be deployed from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs to ensure maximum reach.

The stalls would be put up at railway stations, ISBTs, public places like Appu Ghar, major temples, metro stations, Millennium Park, Delhi Zoo and Mac Donalds outlets. Apart from this a door-to-door weeklong survey would also be conducted under 'search and immunisation' Pulse Polio Campaign.

Around 17,000 workers in 8,600 teams would visit different colonies, including Slum and JJ Clusters, to search for leftover cases and administer polio drops to those children.

UNI