A & N Islands Achieves 100.1% Coverage on Day 1 of Polio Immunisation, House to House Visit to be Conducted on Day 2 & 3 

Tarun Karthick

Port Blair, 04 March 2024

The Union Territory of A&N Islands organised National Immunisation Day for polio across the entire territory on March 3, 2024. The inaugural ceremony, held at UHC Junglighat, witnessed the administration of the first drop of Oral Polio Vaccine by Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District, who graced the occasion as the chief guest.

The event garnered significant attention with the presence of key figures including Dr. Suja Antony, Director of Health Services, and Dr. Avijit Roy, State Immunization Officer, alongside other officials of DHS. Mr. Sharma, in his address, emphasized the importance of immunization and urged the public to ensure the vaccination of children aged between 0 to 5 years.

A robust infrastructure comprising 534 fixed booths was established across various strategic locations including bus terminals, seaports, inter-island vessels, and Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair, facilitating comprehensive coverage.

In a commendable display of commitment, a staggering 21,820 children out of the estimated 21,778 in the age group of 0-5 years received the polio vaccine on the first day of the campaign, encompassing Port Blair and the Defence area. The district-wise coverage showcased remarkable figures: South Andaman witnessed 100.4% coverage with 14,661 out of an estimated 14,600; North and Middle Andaman achieved 100.5% coverage with 4,981 out of an estimated 4,956; Nicobar recorded a coverage of 98.2% with 2,178 out of an estimated 2,222.

The overwhelming response resulted in a total coverage of 100.1% on the first day alone. This success sets the stage for two days of house-to-house visits scheduled for March 4th and 5th, 2024, further strengthening the initiative. Private practitioners of the islands also played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the National Immunisation Day for Polio, demonstrating a unified effort towards a polio-free future.