“Like polio, now eradicate malnutrition,” says Narendra Modi
Ahmedabad, Sunday: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today appealed to the people to eradicate malnutrition from Gujarat, just as the people joined the government campaign to eradicate polio.
Speaking at a small event to mark the state-level Pulse Polio function at Gandhinagar, he congratulated the state health department officials and parents for creating awareness and making a success of the campaign. It was launched some 18 years ago to vaccinate all children in the vulnerable age group of 0-5 against the disease.
The Chief Minister said that time has come now to launch a concerted campaign against a much widespread malady of malnutrition, particularly among children and working class women.
Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said that not a single case of polio has been reported in Gujarat after 2007 due to intensive campaign against the disease.
He said that 1.38 lakh volunteers are scheduled to administer polio drops to 86.34 lakh children at 34,538 booths in the state today on the second round of the campaign this year. The government has also arranged for 3,785 mobile teams and 2,816 transit camps at railway stations, bus stands, airport and other places.
During the first round on February 19 were covered 86.30 lakh children.
Principal Health Secretary Rajesh Kishore and other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion.
