Day 1: 1.13 lakh children administered polio drops

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 19

Around 60 per cent of the targeted children were covered by the District Health Department on the first day of the ongoing three-day pulse polio drive. The drive was kicked off by Patiala Civil Surgeon by administering polio drops to the children at the PRTC Bus Stand.

On the first day, as many as 1,13,012 children were given polio drops at 918 booths and 33 transit points which have already been set up across the district. The Health Department had set a target of giving polio drops to 1.91 lakh children up to the age of five years.

NCC cadets, nursing students, social workers, and other social groups have also extended help in the drive.

Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra said the remaining children will be covered in the next two days.

He said, “With the help of 27 mobile teams, along with 189 supervisors, we will cover the remaining children in two days. The children of labourers, living in slums, marriages palaces, brick kilns, shelters and newly constructed buildings will also be covered in the drive.”

Rakesh Gupta, Director, ESI, also paid a visit at various polio booths and took stock of the drive. District Immunisation Officer Sudha Grover; District Family Welfare Officer Dr Jatinder Kansal; Epidemiologist Dr Yuvraj Narang; were also present during the drive.