Dimapur, January 30 (MExN):The first round of the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization 2011 (IPPI) got underway in Zunheboto District on January 23. A total of 205 booths were set up in the district to immunize a targeted population of 21,500 children from the age group of 0-5 years.
Department of Health & Family Welfare, Zunheboto District Media Officer, P. Renthungo Odyuo, in a press release mentioned that the IPPI is a massive exercise in logistics, manpower deployment and mass mobilization with around 850 health workers and volunteers engaged in manning the booths and carrying out house to house immunization. The workers were given comprehensive instructions and guidelines on proper procedures to be followed in handling and dispensing the vaccine, filling up the forms and marking of houses before moving out to their assigned places.
For Mass mobilization, prior to the booth day information leaflets were passed out through Medical Officers and health workers to all village council Chairmen, Gaonburas, VHCs and pastors and also making announcements in the urban areas to provide the maximum possible coverage. For monitoring all activities a control room was established at the CMOs office which was manned round the clock. To ensure that not a single child is missed out, 47 Supervisors comprising of doctors and paramedical workers were appointed in this round to carry out inspections of booths along with random house to house checking. Apart from booth Sunday, follow up house to house Immunization would also be carried out for the next two days. Although all reports have not been received as yet, the reports received so far indicate an upward trend in the percentage of children immunized over the previous round.
Earlier, an inaugural function was held at the CMO’s office premises with the Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto Kiheto as the chief guest who administered the first polio drops to officially launch the polio booths. The function was chaired by Dr. Alemwabang Aier, District Immunization Officer , while the CMO, Zunheboto , Dr.Viheshe Yepthomi delivered the keynote address and Dr. Hotokhu Chishi Deputy Director, Department of Health & Family Welfare who was also the observer for the district from the Department gave an exhortation about the national programme. The 2nd round of IPPI is scheduled to be conducted on February 27.
Mon
Flagging off the Phase of IPPI in the District, the Chief Angh of Longwa, Ngowang administered the first drops of polio to the children of his Village in the presence of State Level Monitoring Officer and the Medical Officer, Dr. S.N. Sinha.
The District of Mon, along with the rest of the country, joined in the fight against Polio with a total of 235 booths set up across the District. The Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization was formally inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Dinesh Kumar, IAS at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Mon. The Deputy Commissioner, while congratulating the Medical Staffs of Mon for doing well in the past years, said that there were still pockets in the District where there was a lack of awareness. He encouraged the staff to put greater efforts in these places as well as in the remote areas where Medical Officers should monitor seriously. The Deputy Commissioner of Mon also suggested house visits by Health Workers, ASHA’s and other staff so that not a single household is missed. The District Immunization Officer (DIO), Dr. S. Mukherjee gave a brief history of IPPI campaign in the country due to which there had been no Polio cases reported state of Nagaland since 1999. However he stressed on the need to be vigilant against the virus, which may enter the state from other parts of the country. He encouraged the staff to work enthusiastically and diligently to eliminate the virus once and for all. The Programme was chaired by Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy Rongmei and vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Y.M. Singh, Medical Officer of Oting PHC.
Mokokchung
With the rest of the country, Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) programme was held in Mokokchung district successfully. Marking the day, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung Asenla Keitzar administered the polio drops to the first child who have reached the IPPI booth at Imlong place. According to District Immunization Officer, Dr. Limatula, a total of 8501 children received pulse polio drops on the occasion in Mokokchung district. She also said children, who have not turned up during IPPI day will be covered during House-to-House IPPI campaign on January 24 and 25 .
Peren
The Inaugural function of IPPI first round for Peren was held on January 23 at central point Peren town. SDO (Civil) Peren, Smita Sarangi who graced the occasion as the chief guest, appreciated the Medical department Peren district for achieving first rank in the state with 84% coverage during IPPI-2010. She also urged upon the community leaders and the Medical department for active participation and to mobilize children to ensure that every eligible child receives polio drops while encouraging the medical department to keep up with the same spirit to achieve first ranking even this year. About 151 polio booths have been set up in the district to be manned by 50 supervisors and 800 workers. The IPPI programme on January 23 was followed by house-to-house visitation on January 24 and 25 in order to cover those children who could not make it on January 23. Highlights of the inaugural function included-prayer by Pastor, Ao Baptist church Peren, vote of thanks by Dr. Khrielasano DIO-Peren, Administration of first polio drops in Peren by the chief guest, refreshment, etc. The function was presided over by Dr. L. Kuotsu-CMO Peren.
Changtongya
First phase of intensive pulse polio immunization (IPPI) was successfully held under Community Health Centre Changtongya town on January 23 during which house to house visit was also conducted. Altogether 522 children of age group 0-5 years were given two drops of polio. Senior Medical Officer Dr. Marina Yaden, Medical Officer and staff of Community Health Changtongya carried out supervisions in the different booths located at respective wards in the town and village under Changtongya circle.
Dimapur
The first phase of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) programme for the year 2011 was held on January 23. A total of 40,111 children in the age group of 0-5 years were administered polio drops at Dimapur. The immunization programme was launched by Director (Services) Health & Family Welfare Dr. T. L. Nakhro. Altogether 494 polio Booths were set up in different Wards & Colonies, Junctions and exit points. The department will also sent its health workers for house-to-house campaign to administer the left out children. Besides the department, District Administration and Various NGO’s assisted the daylong programme.
Kiphire
Together with the rest of the district, the first phase of Intensive Pulse Polio (IPPI) was conducted at Kiphire on January 23 and 24 at Police Point with deputy commissioner, C.M Tsanglao administering the first polio drop. The IPPI was successfully carried out in the whole district. The whole operation was monitored by 48 supervisors comprising of chief medical officer, Dr. I. Sungit Jamir, medical superintendent, Dr. Yanthan, deputy chief medical officer, Dr. Khriesilie, district immunization officer, Dr. Kibang and other staffs from the District Hospital and Chief Medical Office. The Kiphire Town Sangtam Baptist Youth Endeavor took the initiative in carrying out the operation in and around Kiphire town.
With the motive to reach out to every household, teams were divided involving 512 health workers for 128 booths who were send out to every part of the District ensuring that no child is missed out. The household visits continued till January 25 and have administered a total of 8300 under 5 children, stated a press note.
(With DIPR inputs)
