Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Sachin Kumar Vaishya convened a meeting of the district-level task force for intensified pulse polio immunisation (IPPI) programme on January 25.

Sub-district magistrate (SDM), Kharu, AG Zargar; Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Leh, Dr. Motup Dorje; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Manzoor Ul Haq; Medical Superintendent, SNM Hospital, Dr. Nurzin Angmo; District Immunisation Officer, Dr. Tashi Namgail, and District Social Welfare Officer, Leh, Tsering Chorol were present in the meeting.

CMO Dr. Motup Dorje and DC Leh Sachin Kumar discussed the strategy and joint action plans to be adopted during the first round of IPPI to be held on January 31, covering booth activity, transit points, mela/bazaars, mobile team, and house-to-house activity on February 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

District Immunisation Officer, Tashi Namgial shared their arrangements to combat the disease and plans to vaccinate a population of 9894 children below five years out of which 773 are non-locals.

It was also discussed that the health department requires 377 vaccination booths, 1504 team members, and 68 supervisors for booth activities. Similarly, they require 10 transit points, 20 team members, and two supervisors at transit points. For mela/bazaars, the medical department needs four mela/bazaar sites, 16 team members, and two supervisors. The CMO further shared that the department also requires additional 13 mobile team members for the said activities.

Dr. Tashi Namgial informed the officials that the pulse polio immunisation campaign continues to be a regular programme in India as a preventive measure against the possible spread of the disease from neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, and some African countries where polio is still prevalent despite India becoming a polio-free nation in 2014.

Sachin Kumar Vaishya directed the effective implementation of the IPPI programme in the district and assured help and support to the medical department.