NE children to get final polio oral dose

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 September 2003, 14:46 GMT]
The final oral polio vaccine immunization programme in the Northeast province, with the assistance of UNICEF, will be held between 20 September and 18 October, Consultant Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health Dr. (Ms.) Paba Palihawadene told provincial health officials at a conference held Monday at the provincial health ministry auditorium in Trincomalee.

Provincial Director of Health Services, Dr.S.Kumaravetpillai, and district health officials participated at the conference.

She said that the national polio immunization programme covering all provinces in the country started in 1995 and completed in the year 2000 except in the Northeast province. Because of the war, all children could not be immunized in the northeast province. However, the sub national polio immunization programme continued from 2001 and 2002 in the northeast province.

“This programme is to conclude this year, 2003, as the health authorities expect all children in LTTE held areas could be immunized because of the prevailing peace environment since the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE,” a health ministry official said.

In the past, children less than five years were immunized but this year children less than ten years are to immunized, provincial ministry official said

The Secretary to the northeast Governor, Mr.S. Amirthalingam, will inaugurate the NE polio immunization programme in Trincomalee on 20 September, sources said.