One case of polio in national Capital this year

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) One case of wild Polio virus P-I was reported from the national Capital this year, as compared to two cases reported last year, Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit said today.

A total of 866 cases were reported at the national level in the year 2007, the CM added while exhorting parents to bring their children for polio immunisation tomorrow during the special immunisation programme to administer anti-polio drops to more than 25 lakh children in Delhi for which more than 7500 booths are being established.

Children upto five years would be administered drops by health workers and other agencies including NGOs.

The CM expressed her views after launch of another phase of Special Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme (PPIP) at her residence today.

Speaking on this occasion, Ms Dikshit said Delhi would continue to strive hard to completely eliminate polio. ''Delhi was first to initiate the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme and would like to lead in elimination of the disease which not only hampers physical and mental growth of children but also make them handicapped for rest of their lives,'' she added.

She claimed of a ''remarkable decrease'' in number of cases of polio which were 35,000 in 1994 at national level and only 165 have been reported so far in the current year.

Delhi Health minister Yoganand Shastri said more than 7500 Polio booths would be established tomorrow to administer Polio vaccine to children of 0-5 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 set up at Railway Stations, ISBTs, public places, including Appu Ghar, major temples, Metro stations, Millennium Park and Zoo.

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