Parents’ cooperation sought in eradicating polio

** HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao tells parents to take good care of their children
** Launches second phase of pulse polio drive
** Calls for polio-free society

Visakhapatnam: HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao has called upon the people to co-operate with the government’s efforts to make polio-free society for which the parents must take care of children’s health.

He launched the second phase of the pulse polio immunisation programme at Girijan Bhavan here on Sunday by administering drops to children. The Minister informed that the mega national programme was first launched in India in 1995. Despite taking all necessary steps to administer polio drops nation-wide on two particular dates annually, one polio case was registered in the district in 2007 and another case in the country in 2011. The country, he claimed has been declared as polio-free country in 2014 and to continue the same trend, parents’ and family elders’ cooperation is must, he explained.

If pregnant women take health care as per the suggestions of PHC or CHC, the infants would be protected from various diseases, he said.

People were suffering from chronic diseases like TB and hence the State and Central governmens have introduced Indradhanush programme through which ‘Pentavalent’ vaccine would be given to combat the spread of chronic diseases.

District Medical and Health Officer J Sarojini, Pulse Polio State Coordinator Bharati Reddy, District Immunisation Officer Vijaya Lakshmi, GVMC Medical Officer Lusi, D Varada Reddy from Rotary Club and Swachh Bharat volunteers were present.

Meanwhile, Collector N Yuvaraj launched the pulse polio programme at the PHC, Chinna Waltair by administering drops to children.