Journalism of Courage
Blame it on the hot weather and holiday season,but this years immunisation coverage against polio in the state has dipped by three per cent. While the seven-day follow-up round will cover the children aged 0-5 years who could not be brought to the booths for vaccination,the deputy director of health services,Pune circle,has sent notices to health officials in Pune and Solapur districts regarding their performance.
The notices have been sent specially as a reminder to sustain the intensified efforts to wipe out polio. There can be no let-up in the preparedness and while the dip in the immunisation coverage has only been by 2-3 per cent,we need to maintain a constant vigil, Dr B Sonawane,deputy director of health services,Pune circle,told Newsline.
There has not been a single case of polio since January 13 last year and efforts need to be sustained, said Dr V M Kulkarni,state immunisation officer. However,some of the reasons for the slight dip in performance are the hot weather and holiday season,he said.
People also know that health personnel try to cover the remaining children by visiting their homes for a week after the first round, said Kulkarni.
The second national immunisation round was held on April 15 and the target was 1.16 crore children. A total of 89.78 lakh children were administered the vaccine during the round in the state,thereby ensuring 77 per cent coverage.
However,the figure had touched 80 per cent in the first round held in February.
Due to municipal polls in Bhiwandi,Malegaon,Latur,Chandrapur and Parbhani,the Pulse Polio immunisation round there will be held on April 22.
According to Kulkarni,the immunization coverage in Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation areas was 68 and 63 per cent respectively on Sunday. However,in Pune rural,it was 88 per cent,said Kulkarni. He added that the dip was mainly witnessed in urban areas.
Dr Sunil Tore,PMC immunisation officer,said they had achieved 70 per cent coverage and would achieve the target in the next four days.
