Govt to intensify Polio eradication efforts: Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) Expressing concern over two reported cases of Polio in the capital, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said the government would further intensify its efforts to completely eradicate Polio from the state.

Launching a National Immunisation Drive, as part of a special drive across the country to make India a Polio-free nation, the Chief Minister said eradication of P-I virus of Polio would be immediately focused as its occurrence was dangerous.

P-II virus of Polio was eliminated in the year 1999 whereas eradication of P-III virus would be focused in due course.

Out of around 667 cases of Polio reported in the country last year, 600 were related to P-I virus.

Speaking on this occasion, Ms Dikshit said it would be ensured that no virus of Polio could enter the capital.

''Our state has shown better results in this field. Being pioneer in the Pulse Polio Programme, Delhi is regarded a role model and it would continue to strive hard to completely eliminate Polio. Last year only two cases were reported in the state, 592 cases were reported in the country in 2007 against 676 cases in 2006.

Delhi initiated Pulse Polio Immunisation programme in year 1994 and launched house-to-house search Immunisation in 1999,'' she said.

At the function, where Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri, NDMC Chairperson Parimal Rai and senior representatives of Rotary International were also present, the Chief Minister administered anti-Polio drops to a number of children.

Mr Shastri, who also administered Polio drops to a few children, informed that 9000 Polio booths would be established tomorrow to administer Polio vaccine to lakhs of children from 0 to 5 age group.

Around 30,000 workers and employees of the Health Department would be deployed to ensure maximum reach from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs.

The stalls would be stationed at Railway Stations, ISBTs, Public places including Appu Ghar, major temples, Metro Stations, Millennium Park, Zoo and outlets of Mac Donalds. Apart from this, a door-to-door week-long survey would also be conducted under Search and Immunisation Pulse Polio Campaign.

Around 17,000 workers in different teams would visit different colonies including slum and JJ clusters to make search of left over cases and administer Polio drops to those children.

UNI AR HS RK1740