Do Boond Zindagi Kay
Srinagar, Jan 10: About 9,80000 children below the age group of five years were administered polio vaccine in Kashmir and Ladakh despite inclement weather on Sunday.
“Out of the estimated 10,67340 children of five years and below, 90.26 per cent were administered the vaccine on the Polio Day,” director health, Dr Muhammad Amin Wani told Greater Kashmir.
To make the vaccination campaign successful, he said 5489 vaccination booths were established and 21956 officials including paramedics, Anganwari workers, staff belonging to Indian System of Medicine, Accredited Social Health Activist and other officials participated in the exercise supervised by 1100 employees of Health Department.
He said the department had also set up 182 mobile teams for scattered population and 82 Transit teams at places like Bus Stands.
He said 92 per cent of estimated population had been covered in Pulwama, 88 in Islamabad, 90 in Shopian, 90 in Kulgam, 97 in Bandipore, 80 in Kupwara, 89.36 in Varmul, 92.39 in Srinagar, 88 in Ganderbal, 90 in Kargil and 95 per cent in three blocks of Leh while as the figures for three other blocks were yet to come.
He said the department had already stocked vaccines in Machil, Keran, Tulail, Gurez, Zanskar and upper reaches of Ladakh region as they remain cut-off due to heavy snowfall.
According to the director health, the personnel of the health department would go from door to door on Monday and Tuesday to administer drops to the children whose parents couldn’t make it to the polio booth.
When asked if any polio case had been reported in Kashmir this year, the director said, “For the last ten years the department hasn’t come across any case of polio in Kashmir. This shows success of the campaign launched by the central government in 1995 to eradicate the disease,” Dr Amin said.

Chiraag Talei Andhera
Srinagar: On the Polio Day, the attendants in Valley’s sole children hospital, G B Panth here complained that their children were not vaccinated.
In ward 8 of the hospital, about 15 new born babies were not vaccinated an attendant Bashir Ahmad said. He said they were told that the assigned staff would come into ward for the vaccination. “But they did not turn up,” he said. “We were waiting from the morning an d nobody came here for vaccinating our children,” he said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir the medical superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Kamli said, “There was no provision for providing drops in the ward as the polio booth was in the first floor of the hospital.” He said, “I will see who have communicated the wrong message. Now the health employees have left and we cannot provide the drops.” He said it was the duty of the Health Department to reach to all the children. Commenting on the issue, director health, Dr Muhammad Amin Wani said he would send a team to the hospital and immunize the children.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST