Srinagar:  The campaign for intensive pulse polio immunization was Sunday held across all districts of Kashmir to administer Polio drops to the children in the age group of (0-5) years to protect them from the disease.

At Anantnag, Deputy Commissioner, Anshul Garg inaugurated Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) Programme, 2021 at Maternity & Childcare Hospital Anantnag. The DC started the campaign by administering oral anti polio vaccine drops to the new born infants in presence of CMO and Superintendent M & CCH Anantnag.

CMO Anantnag, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad on the occasion informed the DC that 146152 children will be administered pulse polio drops in the district.

At Budgam, District Development Commissioner, BudgamShabaz Ahmed Mirza inaugurated pulse polio programme at Chief Medical Office by providing Polio drops to Zero age children.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Medical Officer, Budgam  Dr.Tajamuul Hussain said that 107761 children will be administered Pulse Polio drops in District Budgam.

He informed that 2488 staff members including Health Workers, 653 ASHA workers, 637 ICDS workers besides 124 voluntaries have been deployed at 622 Booths.

He said 57 booths have been established in hard to reach areas.

At Baramulla, Acting Deputy Commissioner/Additional District Development Commissioner Baramulla, Aijaz Abdullah Saraaf kick-started the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) campaign by giving oral polio drops to a newly born baby at GMC Baramulla.

On the occasion it was informed that about 1.64 lakh children falling in the age group of 0-5 years shall be immunized at 790 booths and 11 transit points  established in the district.

About 3150 health workers have been deployed for the successfull conduct of the Immunization drive. Moreover, one mobile team has also been facilitated for the purpose

At Ganderbal, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal launched the IPPIProgramme at District Hospital Ganderbal in presence of Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal, DHO, Medical Superintendent DH and other concerned officers.

Under the programme 48013 children in the age group of 0-5 years will be administered vaccines at 232 booths  vaccinations in the district  to immunize them against the disease.

At Pulwama, Additional Deputy Commissioner PulwamaAltafAhmad  launched  IPPI  campaign at CMO office  where he administered polio drops to the children in presence of CMO and other district officers.

During the Pulse Polio programme about 92836 children will be provided oral Polio drops at 471 Polio booths in the district.

Pertinently, 93 Supervisors, 1884 Health worker which include Anganwari Workers, Voluntary workers, ASHA workers besides eight mobile teams  have been engaged  to make the programme successful.

At Kupwara, DDCKupwara, Imam Din Inaugurated Pulse Polio Immunization programme at Sub District Hospital Kupwara during which he administered polio drops to an infant.

On the occasion, the DDC was informed that 130677 children will be immunized at 738 PPI centres set up across the district. Besides, 2952 employees have been deployed to implement the programme including 1289 staff members from health department, 954 Asha workers, 675 ICDS workers. It was also informed that 74 NGOs are taking part in the programme.

At Kulgam, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, ShowkatAijaz Bhat launched the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization programme in the district by administering polio drops to several children at District Hospital Kulgam.

In district Kulgam 87290 children  will be vaccinated at 508  booths  established in five medical blocks  by the health, Anganwadi and Asha Workers.

As many as 233 Pulse Polio booths were established besides 03 transit teams and 01 mobile team have been set up to vaccinate 39414 children.

It was informed that 948 health workers including Anganwari and ASHA workers have been deployed for the job.

Srinagar: Police on Sunday arrested three drug peddlers, including a resident of Punjab, and recovered huge quantity of contraband from them in separate incidents in Kashmir valley.

A police spokesperson said following specific information, a checkpoint was established by police at Wakroora in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal. “A suspicious person was signaled to stop at the checkpoint but he tried to flee the spot,” he said.

However, he said alert police party chased and apprehended him tactfully. “The accused has been identified as Tanveer Ahmad Bhat. “During search, officers were able to recover 2 Kgs of cannabis from him,” he said, adding the accused was arrested and lodged in a Police Station. “Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Ganderbal and investigation into the matter has been initiated,” he said.

He said in a separate incident, four suspicious persons were signaled to stop at a checkpoint at BolsooChowk in south Kashmir district of Kulgam.

He said accused tried to flee the spot, but one of them was chased and apprehended by the alert police party. “The accused, identified as Hilal Ahmad Lone, was arrested and during his checking, police was able to recover 800 gms of Charas,” he said.

He said preliminary investigation reveals that the accused persons, who managed to escape from the spot, have been identified as Nafees Ahmad Dar, resident of Brazloo, Shahid Ahmad Bhat, resident of Brazloo and Subzar Ahmad Bhat, resident of Tarigam, “Efforts are on to effect their arrest,” he said.

He said in a similar action, a police party of Police Station Yaripora established a checkpoint at Yaripora Bridge in Kulgam. “Officers intercepted a vehicle at the checkpoint and during checking recovered 5 kg of poppy straw,” he said, adding the driver of the vehicle, identified as Sardar Singh, resident of Hoshiyarpur in Punjab, was immediately taken into custody.

“Cases in both the incident were registered and further investigation was taken up,” he said.

“Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law. Our consistent actions against drug peddlers should reassure the community members that we are making efforts to keep our society free from the scourge of drug menace,” he added.

Ganderbal:  Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal Sunday chaired a meeting of officers to discuss the containment measures and arrangements to tackle the threat of avian influenza (bird flu).

The meeting held threadbare discussion to check and control the possible spread of bird flu.

On the occasion, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer informed that no case of any bird flu has been reported in Ganderbal district so far and people need not to panic in this regard.

The CAHO apprised the meeting about the District Action Plan and role of each concerned department in case of outbreak of bird flu.

He also informed the meeting that all possible measures have been adopted by the Animal Husbandry department to keep the flu at bay.

He further said that the district and block level monitoring and surveillance teams have been already constituted to carry intensive surveillance in their respective areas. Besides, district control room  has been established for the  people to obtain any information regarding flu on (7006915273).

Meanwhile, DC instructed the concerned to further strengthen existing Surveillance/RRTs by including officials from other departments like revenue, rural department, forest, wildlife, sheep husbandry and fisheries.

He stressed upon the officials to establish a close connect with the farmers, especially livestock breeders to ensure proper surveillance in the local farm houses for reporting any unusual sickness and mortality.

Bandipora:  Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, DrOwais Ahmad, facilitated airlifting of critically ill diabetic patient from snowbound Gurez to Bandipora for immediate medical treatment.

The district administration received an SOS from the family for evacuation of 50-year-old diabetic patient Bashir Ahmad Dar of KhoprayGurez who was in unconscious state owing to abnormally high Blood sugar level.

While swiftly reacting to the situation, Deputy Commissioner immediately directed to arrange a special chopper to airlift the patient.

Despite adverse weather conditions, the pilot managed to reach Gurez valley. However, the helicopter couldn’t land for about two hours owing to less visibility and adverse weather conditions in Gurez.

DC Bandipora was continuously monitoring the operation for the evacuation while  the patient was being shifted to District Hospital Bandipora for treatment.

DC Bandipora appreciated the Pilot for the tireless effort in rescuing the patient and saving a life.  It is pertinent to mention that snow-clad Gurez valley remains cut off from the rest of the world during winters.