Amid harsh winter, Lahaul gears up for immunisation day

The Lahaul–Spiti district administration has completed all preparations for the National Immunisation Day (NID) and the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) campaign scheduled for December 21. A review meeting of the district microplan was held on Saturday at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Keylong, chaired by Assistant Commissioner Kalyani Tiwana.

Despite the district’s challenging terrain and severe cold weather, the administration has said no child would be left without the vital “two drops of life.” A dedicated team of 200 health workers and volunteers has been mobilised for the campaign, which aims to cover 300 villages and settlements, 4,144 households and 1,169 children aged 0 to 5 years — 562 in Gondhla block and 607 in Kaza block. For smooth operations, 50 immunisation booths, including 35 fixed and 15 mobile units, would be set up across the district. Adequate vaccine supplies and logistics have been secured, including 2,400 OPV doses, 120 vials, 100 vaccine carriers, 15 vaccine distribution centres and 15 field supervisors.

Arrangements have been made for snowbound and highly inaccessible regions such as Tabo, Losar, Hikkim, Komic, Udaipur and Trilokinath. These include advance booking of 4×4 vehicles, delivery of vaccines to all cold chain points by December 18 and distribution to booth level from December 19-20. ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and ANMs will conduct a house-to-house survey from December 10 to finalise the list of beneficiaries.

Assistant Commissioner Tiwana directed officials to ensure all booths remain active from 8 am to 5 pm on December 21. Children unable to reach booths on the scheduled day would be covered through door-to-door visits by ASHA workers on December 22 and 23. The district administration and the Health Department have appealed to all parents to bring their children aged 0 to 5 years to the nearest immunisation booth on December 21.

The administration called upon the public to join hands in realising the resolve of a polio-free India and a polio-free state.