Shillong, Jan 21: The first phase of the pulse polio immunization to children below five years was conducted throughout the state on Monday. The immunization campaign is as part of the 18th national Pulse Polio immunization drive in the country.
Pulse Polio is an immunization campaign established by the government of India in 1995-96 to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio) in India by vaccinating all children under the age of five years against polio virus.
The Health department has set up camps in various places in the state in order that polio drops be administered to all infants below the age group of five years.
Camps were set up in various places across the state, apart from hospitals and health centres camps were set up at various localities, commumnity halls, bus stationsbesides other public places.
The Medical and Health staff apart, members of primary health centres, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, women’s group members and government officials were on the move till evening to achieve the target.
It may be mentioned here that in India, vaccination against Polio started in 1978 with Expanded Program in Immunisation (EPI). By 1984, it was successful in covering around 40% of all infants, giving 3 doses of OPV to each. In 1985, the Universal Immunisation Program (UIP) was launched to cover all the districts of the country. UIP became a part of child safe and survical motherland program (CSSM) in 1992 and Reproductive and Child Health Program (RCH) in 1997. This program led to a significant increase in coverage, up to 95%. The number of reported cases of polio also declined from 28,757 during 1987 to 3,265 in 1995.
Besides, in 1995, following the Polio Eradication Initiative of World Health Organization (1988), India launched Pulse Polio Immunisation Program along with Universal Immunisation Program which aimed at 100% coverage. In 2012, India was declared free of polio by WHO.(SP News)
