With an objective to maintain the ‘NO POLIO’ status, Lunglei District joined the rest of the country today in the nation-wide polio vaccination drive ‘IPPI 2020’ with an inauguration programme held at Lunglei North Main Centre, Venglai. Lunglei Deputy Commissioner Pu V. Lalsangliana, IAS kicked off the pulse polio programme by administering oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops to children here at the District capital. The Chief Medical Officer Dr Thani Pachuau and Senior Medical Officer Dr Lalrinthangi were also in attendance.

Launching the ‘IPPI 2020’ for the District, Deputy Commissioner Pu V. Lalsangliana stressed on the importance of timely administration of OPV to children under 5 years of age, to maintain the polio free status of the District and the country as a whole. He requested parents, teachers and other caregivers to come forward and bring all eligible children below five years of age to receive the OPV. He also took the opportunity to praise and thank the Health Department officials for all their dedication, hard work and overtime that they put in to ensure the success of various health related interventions and schemes within the District.

As per the Health Department survey, Lunglei District presently has a population of 1,61,607 people with 31,321 households. From that, the target population ie children aged below 5 years stands at 13,478, with 860 OPV vials required to achieve 100% vaccination. 218 booths have been set up across the District under the administration of the District Hospital at Lunglei, Sub Divisional Hospitals and various MCs, CHCs and PHCs.