Hoshiarpur: A meeting of the District Task Force was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain to review the preparations and progress of the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization campaign, the Stop Diarrhea campaign, and the HPV vaccination program. Civil Surgeon Dr. Mandeep Kamal, SP Dr. Manpreet Sheemar, District Immunization Officer Dr. Seema Garg, heads of various departments, all Senior Medical Officers, and officials from other relevant departments attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain stated that these three public health programs are crucial for safeguarding the health of children and adolescent girls. She emphasized that making the HPV vaccination drive successful is the need of the hour to keep India polio-free, reduce child mortality caused by diarrhea, and prevent cervical cancer. She directed all departments to coordinate with the Health Department to intensify awareness activities and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out of these services.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that the Intensified Pulse Polio campaign will be conducted in the district on June 28, 29, and 30, with a target to administer polio drops to 1,26,186 children aged 0 to 5 years. She explained that on the first day, the vaccine would be administered at polio booths, while over the next two days, Health Department teams would conduct door-to-door visits to cover any children who missed the initial round.
Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain urged officials to work with full commitment to make these campaigns successful through public participation while ensuring continuous monitoring at the grassroots level. She directed the Education Department, ICDS, Transport Department, and other relevant departments to extend full cooperation for the successful execution of these health campaigns. Speaking on the occasion, Civil Surgeon Dr. Mandeep Kamal stated that polio is a serious viral disease capable of causing permanent disability in children. He noted that while India has achieved polio-free status, administering polio drops to every child is essential to sustain this achievement. He urged parents to ensure their children receive the polio dose and to cooperate with the Health Department teams.
Providing further details, Dr. Mandeep Kamal explained that the primary objective of the 'Stop Diarrhea' campaign, running from June 16 to June 30, is to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by diarrhea among children under the age of five. He emphasized that the timely use of ORS and zinc proves effective in saving children's lives. To this end, adequate supplies of ORS and zinc have been ensured at all health institutions, Aam Aadmi Clinics, and Anganwadi centers. Additionally, public awareness is being raised regarding clean water, sanitation, and hand-washing habits.
During the meeting, District Immunization Officer Dr. Seema Garg delivered a PowerPoint presentation detailing the district-level progress of all three programs, covering aspects such as micro-planning, team deployment, vaccine availability, cold chain management, and monitoring systems. She informed the gathering that 799 polio booths would be set up in the district on the first day of the Pulse Polio campaign, comprising 753 fixed booths, 25 transit booths, and 21 mobile teams. Furthermore, 1,598 teams—consisting of 3,196 members and 175 supervisors—have been deployed to reach approximately 3.52 lakh households and cover every eligible child.
Dr. Seema Garg added that special coverage would be ensured in high-risk areas, including brick kilns, migrant labor settlements, slum areas, bus stands, and railway stations. Providing information regarding HPV vaccination, he stated that the Human Papillomavirus is a major cause of cervical cancer in women and that this serious disease can be prevented through timely vaccination.
He mentioned that the Health Department is working under a special scheme to cover girls in the eligible age group with the HPV vaccine, and awareness activities are being conducted at both school and community levels. He urged the public not to pay heed to any rumors and to ensure their daughters are vaccinated in accordance with the advice of health experts.
Heads of various departments, all Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), the District Programme Officer, and other concerned officials were present on the occasion.