27 lac Delhi children to recieve polio drops tomorrow

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said her Government has drawn up plans to intensify awareness programmes about polio eradication, especially in slum colonies, even as not a single polio case been reported in the capital in the past six months.

Launching a fresh phase of polio drive, Ms Dikshit said that around 27 lakh children would be administered drops at 7,500 polio booths in the capital tomorrow.

Around 24,000 health personnel and workers have been deputed for this purpose. Polio booths have been set up at Railway Stations, ISBTs, 57 Metro Stations, airports, all important Parks and temples, and the Pragati Maidan for administering of drops t children below age five.

International organisations like UNICEF, NGOs like Rotary and Lions Club and 1250 RWA's have also assured their cooperation, she said. Around 370 routes have been earmarked to ensure delivery of drops up-to polio booths.

She said Delhi was almost on the threshold of total eradication but few cases come up, mostly because of migration of polio-affected children from neighbouring states.

Reiterating her government's commitment to make Delhi a polio-free state at the earliest, she said that not even a single case of polio has been reported in the capital since November, last and only six cases were reported in 2006 and only one case was reported in 2005. As part of the programme, she administered anti-Polio drops to 40 children at her residence.

She said different modes of disseminating information were being utilised to spread awareness about the campaign. Telecom providers MTNL, AIRTEL and other telecom companies and NDPL and BSES have started giving pulse polio message on their bills and other printed matter. FM and Electronic Media are also being utilized for this purpose, she added.

Health Minister Dr Yoganand Shastri was also present on the occasion.

She said that Delhi has always been a pioneer in pulse polio programme, and had earned international acclaim because of its success.

Next round of Polio programme will be held in the month of May.

UNI