Polio Immunisation launched across Mizoram

All the refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh as well as internally displaced people of Manipur takin shelter in Mizoram will be covered in the intensified pulse polio immunisation launched in the state on Tuesday, a senior health department official said. Dr. Lalmuanawma Jongte, State Immunisation Officer said that over 1.1 lakh children below the age of 5 years are projected to be covered in the intensified pulse polio immunisation in the 11 districts of Mizoram.

Jongte said that while pulse polio immunisation exercise began at healthcare facilities by arranging booths across the state on Tuesday, health officials will undertake home visits in their respective jurisdictions to ensure that all the eligible children and administered polio immunisation.  He said that while a few districts do not include Myanmar and Bangladesh refugees and IDPs from Manipur to be covered in the immunisation exercise, all of them will be ultimately covered during the next two days.

 Health &Wellness Officer, Health Workersand Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in all the villages in the rural areas and localities in the urban areas will undertake home visit from Wednesday, Jongte said. He added that the polio immunisation has been carried out even as polio is regarded as being eradicated in the country due to prevalence of polio in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. EOM