KATHMANDU, Oct 24: Nepal marked World Polio Day by organizing various programs on Thursday.
In his video message on this occasion, Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, has urged one and all to contribute to the global campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio).
Through the message, he has called on all parents/guardians to ensure a full-course of polio vaccination for their children within a year of the birth, to make the campaign successful.
Expressing his concerns over the detection of sporadic cases of polio in the country, Minister Paudel said this suggests the country still faces the polio risk. He added that some countries in the world have also reported the presence of poliovirus, highlighting its global risk. He insisted on its eradication from across the world.
'Special Polio Vaccination Drive' to take place in 15 districts
The poliovirus is spread person-to-person through the fecal-oral route and by the consumption of polluted food and water.
The oral polio vaccine is administered to a child at six, 10 and14 weeks and the inactivated polio vaccine is given twice : at 14 weeks and nine months.
Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Section, Department of Health Services, Dr Abhiyan Gautam, said although people of all age groups may get polio, it mainly affects children under five.
This devastating disease is highly contagious and its symptoms include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, body ache and fatigue and the severity can lead to irreversible paralysis and even death.
It can be prevented through vaccination and the maintenance of personal hygiene, intake of purified water and hygienic food are recommended for minimizing its risk.
It may be noted that with the detection of poliovirus in sewage samples collected from Teku, the confluence of Tukucha and Bagamti rivers, last July, the government had launched a special polio vaccination drive, targeting children under five in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley.
RSS
