Ranchi, Jan. 6: Caught red-faced by the failure of the “pulse polio” campaign yesterday, the state government today swung into action and extended the date of the programme by two days. However, today’s drive was marked by poor turnout of children.

“Yesterday, there were plenty of children but the medicines were in short supply. Today we have sufficient medicine ,but there are no children,” said a health worker, posted at one of the booths. Deputy commissioner, Ranchi, Jaishankar Tiwari today issued a notification, which appeared in the local newspapers, asking officials and health workers associated with the Pulse Polio campaign to stay put at their respective booths for two days — January 6 and 7.

At the Shiv temple booth on Harmu Road, only one child turned up for the polio drop till 3.30 pm. Similarly, at Harmu hospital, only four children were administered pulse polio doses.

“Yesterday, the booths were flooded with children and some of them had to return without the drops. Today we had good stock of medicines, but few takers. Probably the parents had lost their enthusiasm after yesterday’s disappointment,’’ said a health worker at Harmu hospital.

Another reason for today’s poor turnout was attributed to opening of schools. “Most of the children go to schools. Being a Monday, they all went to schools. Even parents did not have time today as they went to their offices,” she said.

Ranchi civil surgeon Y.K. Sinha said: “Yesterday's incident was a lesson for us. Today, we ensured that all the centres were stocked with sufficient medicine. However, not many children benefited from today’s programme.”

He, however, said the workers have started a house-to-house campaign from this afternoon. “Going by the poor response at the booths in the morning, our workers started visiting the houses later in the afternoon to ensure that no child was left out,” he added. Sinha also claimed that the house-to-house campaign would continue till each and every child was given polio drops. The DC has ordered an inquiry into the irregularities in the distribution of polio vaccine in the capital. The health department has also ordered a separate probe into the matter.

A senior department official said action would be taken against those

found guilty for the mess on January 5. The department is likely to issue

show-cause notices to the various officials for “mismanagement” of the

drive.

EoM

========================