Hoshiarpur: In accordance with the guidelines of the Punjab Health Department, the National Pulse Polio Campaign was conducted in Hoshiarpur district from June 28 to June 30. During this drive, Health Department teams administered polio drops to children under the age of five at booths and through door-to-door visits. The district achieved 98.83% of its set target during the campaign. This information was shared by Hoshiarpur Civil Surgeon Dr. Mandeep Kamal.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Mandeep Kamal stated that on the first day, polio drops were administered to children at polio booths across the district, while on the second and third days, Health Department teams covered children through door-to-door visits. The teams reached urban and rural areas, as well as slum settlements, migrant worker colonies, brick kilns, construction sites, and other vulnerable areas, ensuring that no child missed out on receiving the polio drops.
He mentioned that 259 'X' houses were recorded in the district during the campaign. These are households where family members were not present or the houses were found locked when the teams visited. A separate list of all such houses has been prepared, and Health Department teams will revisit them on July 1 as part of a special follow-up drive to ensure that no child under the age of five living there remains unvaccinated against polio.
Dr. Mandeep Kamal emphasized that administering two drops of the polio vaccine to every eligible child during every National Pulse Polio round is crucial to maintaining a polio-free India. Therefore, the department has devised a well-planned strategy to cover the missed children and ensure that no child is left out of the campaign. Appreciating the hard work of all Senior Medical Officers, Medical Officers, district and block-level officials, supervisors, ANMs, Multipurpose Health Workers, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and all staff associated with the campaign, he stated that it was due to their diligence and teamwork that Hoshiarpur district achieved a coverage rate of 98.83 percent.
The Civil Surgeon appealed to all citizens of the district—especially parents—to extend their full cooperation when Health Department teams revisit their homes on July 1. He urged them to ensure their children under the age of five receive the polio drops, particularly if the child had missed the dose for any reason or was not at home during the team's earlier visit.