Gearing up for Pulse Polio Day

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Special Commissioner Navin Mittal said Wednesday that all medical officers must visit and inspect high risk areas in slums and make elaborate arrangements on Pulse Polio Day on April 15.

In Hyderabad about 6,56,454 babies are expected to be administered the vaccine as nearly, 9,13,293 houses are going to be covered. The authorities have set up 3,200 booths besides 66 mobile teams for the purpose. The vaccine will be administered from 7 am to 6 pm.

Navin Mittal held a review meeting with members of the district task force to review arrangements for the Pulse Polio Day. In 2008, one case of P3 Polio virus was reported in East Godavari district and since 2009, no case has been reported in the State. All the polling stations of previous elections have been made polio booths and slums (792 notified and 209 non-notified) have been identified as high risk areas.

Polio booths will also be set up at all the transit points — railway stations and bus stations which will be working round the clock starting from midnight April 14. Personnel from government departments, NGOs, NCC, nursing and medical students, SHO Cantonment, ASHAS, Anganwadi workers, Mahila Mandals and others are involved in this task. Pediatric clinics, private nursing homes and corporate hospitals are also participating in this programme.