ABOUT 35 to 40 per cent of the target 10.80 lakh children in the district were administered polio drops at various polio booths on Sunday. A total of 3367 booths (2565 in the rural area and 811 in the urban area) were set up by the district health department for immunising children. Polio booths were also set up by various voluntary and social organisations.
Chief medical officer Dr Shantimal Singhavi inspected the polio drive in urban areas. He also visited the railway station and bus stand to ensure that mobile teams were immunising children.
Additional chief medical officer and district immunisation officer Dr SC Gupta said due to extremely hot weather the attendance of children dropped between 12 noon to 2 pm. But again after 2 pm, the children were brought to the booths.
In comparison to the last drive, we managed to administer polio drops to a higher number of children. But still the figures were not remarkable,” he added.Dr Gupta said the cold chain of polio vaccine was found maintained at most booths.
The booths began functioning at 8 am sharp. Due to the large number of transfer of senior medical officers, CHC superintendents were asked to monitor the drive in the PHCs and new PHCs in their areas. “In view of the hot weather, extra ice will be supplied to the house to house team for maintaining the cold chain. The house to house activity will start from Monday,” he said.
The ACMO also inspected the drive at D type health centres, Daraganj, Kydganj, Naini and Medical Care Unit.