Delhi Kids to Be Immunized Against Polio

Claming that Delhi will continue as a model state in the war against polio, Chief Minster Sheila Dikshit Saturday said over 2.5 million kids below the age of five will be immunized Sunday.

Launching another round of Pulse Polio Campaign, Dikshit administered anti-polio drops to a number of children at her official residence here.

Delhi witnessed seven cases of polio in 2006, an increase from just one case in 2005.

'The only threat Delhi faces on this front is from certain neighbouring states, which contribute substantially to the huge migration into the capital,' she said, adding the floating population was a headache for her government.

Calling for a success of Pulse Polio Programme, she said: 'Delhi is regarded a role model and it would continue to strive hard to completely eliminate polio.'

On Sunday, volunteers at 7,500 booths would administer vaccine to over 2.5 million children below five years of age. Around 30,000 workers and employees of the health department would be on the job from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The stalls would be stationed at railway stations, major bus terminals, public places like Appu Ghar, major temples, Delhi Metro stations, millennium park, zoo and McDonalds outlets.

'Apart from this, a door-to-door weeklong survey would also be conducted under search and immunization pulse polio campaign. Around 17,000 workers in 8,600 teams would visit different colonies including slums to administer anti-polio drops to left over children,' said Yoganand Shastri, the state health minister.

Source-IANS
SRM