Bandipora, Kashmir, June 28: The Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, on Sunday launched the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme (IPPI)-2026 from NTPHC Quil Muqam and reviewed the arrangements made for the district-wide campaign aimed at immunizing all children in the 0-5 years age group against polio.
The Deputy Commissioner said that seamless arrangements had been put in place for the successful implementation of the campaign across the district. A total of 338 polio vaccination booths had been established, with more than 61,000 children in the 0-5 years age group identified as the target population for immunization.
On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said the first day of the campaign was being conducted through institutional vaccination booths, while the next two days would witness intensive door-to-door vaccination to ensure that no eligible child was left uncovered.
The Deputy Commissioner urged parents and guardians to actively participate in the campaign and ensure that every child below five years of age received the two life-saving drops, emphasizing that every child vaccinated was a step towards a polio-free future.
The Deputy Commissioner said the campaign had been launched from Quil Muqam to review the functioning of NTPHC Quil Muqam and assess healthcare service delivery. She also took stock of the issues related to the local water supply scheme and directed the concerned authorities to address the matter on priority.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed the importance of achieving 100 percent coverage of eligible children and directed the Health Department to ensure its saturation.
Among others present on the occasion were Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr. Bhajan Kour; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nasir Ahmad; Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Bandipora-cum-District Immunization Officer, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad; Block Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr. Mohammad Tahir Malik, besides other health officials and stakeholders.