Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Mar 3: 88 percent of children under 5 years of age across J&K received the oral pulse polio vaccine today, with most covered across the districts of the Union Territory.
On day-1, which is National Immunization Day, 979,428 children out of a total of 1,067,627 were covered across Kashmir districts, accounting for 92 percent coverage.
In Jammu Division, 84 percent of the total eligible children received the oral pulse polio vaccine, totaling 702,380 out of 834,625 children across Jammu districts.
District-wise breakdown in Kashmir reveals: In Anantnag, out of a total of 143,554 children under 5, 134,042 were covered on Day-1; in Bandipora, out of 61,528, 54,632 were covered; in Ganderbal, out of 46,689, 43,673 children were covered.
Similarly, in Kulgam, out of 88,381 children, 74,616 were covered; in Kupwara, out of 130,677, 117,139 were covered; in Pulwama, out of 93,599, 88,182 children were vaccinated; in Shopian, out of 42,824, 37,142 were covered; in Baramulla, out of 163,519, 149,279 children were covered; in Budgam, out of 106,237, 99,446 children were covered; and in Srinagar district, out of 190,619 eligible children, 181,277 were covered.
The overall coverage in Kashmir was recorded at 95 percent, with the remaining children to be reached through a two-day door-to-door campaign.
In Srinagar, Secretary, Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, inaugurated the campaign at Children’s Hospital, Bemina and briefed about the exercise across J&K.
“There are some areas which pose challenges due to terrain, but we will ensure coverage today. To ensure success and cover all children in the age group, we have established nearly 11,000 booths across J&K with nearly 45 thousand healthcare workers involved,” he said.
Regarding the district-wise breakdown of National Immunization Day figures in Jammu division, in Jammu district, out of a total of 188,424, 167,514 children received the oral polio vaccine on Day-1; in Samba, out of 47,836, 40,963 children were covered; in Kathua, out of 102,238, 91,130 children; in Rajouri, out of 109,705, 94,835 were covered; in Poonch, out of 81,836, 65,682 children were covered.
Similarly, the figures show that in Udhampur, out of 86,168, 71,818 were covered; in Reasi, out of 50,624, 45,408 children were covered; in Doda, out of 70,790, 49,626 children were covered; in Ramban, out of 57,073, 45,194 children were covered; and lastly, in Kishtwar district, out of 39,931, 30,210 children were covered.
“On day 1, the children were brought to the booths and through this, 88% coverage has been achieved; now in the next 2 days, we will carry out door-to-door campaigns through which the left outs will be covered across J&K; the aim is to ensure 100% coverage,” officials said.
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