Polio Campaign Rumour Spark The City

The States intensive pulse polio campaign launched here on Sunday was marred by rumours of a baby in Erode dying after being administered with polio drops. Panic gripped mothers in Erode and Coimbatore districts who rushed already immunised babies to the nearest government hospital while others did not get the , dropsimmunisation done at all.

Director of Public Health Dr S Elango blamed certain political parties for trying to wreak havoc in what essentially is a campaign for children across the country. The baby who died had hydrocephalus or water in the brain. He had been operated upon in a private hospital in Coimbatore and his death was a pure coincidence. Worldwide polio drops cannot and have not affected a single baby, he said.

Elango said the damage caused by such irresponsible media reports would have ripple effects on the health of babies and children in the State. “Due to this report, we suspect around 20 lakh children may not get the vaccine and our State that has been polio-free for four years may just see some cases,he said. Angry and upset, the State Health Department is issuing counter statements on several television channels asking parents not to panic over rumours and appealing to them to get their children vaccinated.

Health Secretary V K Subburaj said the department was trying to contain the panic and initiate measures to ensure children were not missed. While the rumours have not affected vaccination in the city where over 4 lakh children were immunised at 1,126 centres the Institute of Child Health, Egmore has been receiving calls asking if the polio drops are safe. “We are trying to scotch these rumours. Pulse polio has been given for 13 years without a single untoward incident, said director Dr Sharada Suresh.

The campaign, launched on Sunday by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, is expected to benefit over 70 lakh children across the State in two phases December 21 and February 2, 2009. The campaign is covering children under the age of five who will be administered polio drops despite their previous immunisation status. At least 40,339 immunisations booths have been set up across the State at government hospitals, primary health centres, schools, noon meal centres and other locations. Health Minister M R K Pannerselvam said centres were also being put up at bus and railway stations, temples and tourist spots to ensure children of migrant workers were also covered.

Related Posts by Categories

Govt

• Anna Univ Coimbatore Results for B.Tech/B.Arch May 2010
• உலகத் தமிழ் செம்மொழி மாநாடு - மைய நோக்க பாடல்
• உலகத் தமிழ் செம்மொழி மாநாடு - 5 நாள் நிகழ்ச்சி நிரல்
• Officials sensitised to birth, death registration
• Police recruitment exam on th Oct
• Water scheme for Kavundampalayam, Vadavalli may be completed in Dec.
• NREGS implementation gets going good !
• TN sets 9 of blast convicts free
• Khadi Minster is stable !
• Coimbatore textile institute to be upgraded !
• Taking IT jobs to the rural youth
• Government slashes amenities charges
• Corp Will Levy Vacant Land Tax
• SP Issued Guidelines For Cattle Transport
• Water quality monitoring at major river basins
• Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency to work with sago units
• ESIC medical college @ CBE !
• Inordinate delay in Irugur line doubling criticised
• Tight Scurity For Independence Day
• Steps To Remove Advertisements On Buses
• TNGCTA Urged Govt For New Scale Pay
• Rs 25 Lak Worth Of Jewellery Recovered
• Opium Seized
• MoU Signed
• ICCI Protested The Powercut

General

• Indian navy felicitate shooters !
• Voters strength goes up by 9%
• Nuts 'n' Spices plansto enter cbe !
• உலகத் தமிழ் செம்மொழி மாநாடு - 5 நாள் நிகழ்ச்சி நிரல்
• ‘Manage the present industrial scenario well’
• Consumer body opposes ‘illegal, excess bus fare’
• Trial run on New Irugur - N.cbe Track !!
• Traffic diversions in city today
• New fire tenders for Coimbatore Airport
• Power cabels t go underground !!
• Eclipse Watch !!
• Army recruitment announcement
• SIEMA to develop ‘Made in Coimbatore’ brand
• Copenhagen summit: City students express solidarity
• Awareness campaign for TNSTC drivers
• Botanical garden: soil samples taken
• NASSCOM to help police ..
• YES plus from 5th Jan
• Training for women
• Youth urged to become entrepreneurs
• Six-a-side cricket to be conducted !!
• Wild jackals kill 39 sheeps !
• Biometric survey under houses for urban poor scheme
• Helmet must from 10th dec !!
• Kamal Nath thanked !

health

• 200 surgeries and more to go at KG !!
• Surgery can help avoid corneal transplant
• Micro Surgery device installed at Vasan eye care !
• Rotary stresses routine immunisation against polio
• 100 per cent screening in schools begins for H1N1
• All private school students in Coimbatore city to be screened
• obesity awareness week !!
• Breast cancer awareness month begins !
• Free treatment for cancer !
• Exhibition on mental health
• Flu situation managed effectively, says Dean
• Enrolment for health insurance scheme begins
• 9 more tested positive for Swine Flu ....
• Govt names five pvt labs in state for H1N1 testing
• Plea to fill vacancies in Mettupalayam GH
• Medi Science Health Exhibition
• Flu: CMCH says it has a quick response system
• 3 family members test negative for flu
• GKNM gets NABH Accreditation ..
• KMCH Doctor receives "Cum Laude Award"
• Workshop on Audiology
• Medical news ..
• Mother, son test negative for H1N1 flu
• Two admitted with swine flu symptoms
• Free Eye checkup ..