SHILLONG: A state-level meeting on leprosy awareness was held at the National Health Mission Conference Hall in Laitumkhrah on Monday.
The Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign was launched in the presence of additional chief secretary H. Marwein who was the chief guest at the programme.
Also, the first round of the intensified pulse polio immunization programme began in all parts of the State on Monday.
In Tura, DM&HO Marwein Sangma asked parents to give oral polio drops to children between 0-5 years at polio booths set up in different locations or during door-to-door campaign for two days in the district.
“There are about 1,134 polio booths, which include 4,536 vaccinators covering the eight blocks of the districts,” said Ivory Sangma, district maternity and child health officer.
Anti-leprosy day was also observed on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary.
In Jowai, health workers have been deployed to administer pulse polio drops. The district administration aims to cover the entire West Jaintia Hills district in the first phase of the immunisation programme.
In Mawkyrwat, an awareness programme for both leprosy and pulse polio was organised at the community health centre on Monday.
South West Khasi Hills DC R. Lyngdoh said the community’s involvement and support are needed to eradicate both polio and leprosy.
