Malappuram: In the wake of the death of a 16-year-old boy whose life was claimed by diphtheria in Tanur, the district administration on Monday decided to launch a complete immunisation drive covering all the unimmunised and partially immunised areas in Tanur municipal limits within a week.
A high level meeting of top officials including the District collector, District Medical Officers, MLA, representatives from the Indian Medical Association and others in Tanur on Monday charted out a complete plan to strengthen the immunisation programme. All the 44 wards in the municipal area will be covered to achieve 100 per cent immunization during the period. According to the statistics with the health authorities, the total number of vaccinated children in the area is fewer than 70 per cent.
“Only the co-operation and collective efforts of the people from various strata of society could resolve the problem of resistance to vaccinations in the district,” District Collector S. Venkatasapathy said. The help from organisations and people's representatives was also crucial in achieving 100 per cent immunization, he said.
The health department has decided to put a premium on least vaccinated areas of the district where the resistance to vaccination remains strong despite alarming fatalities. After Tanur, the drive will be expanded to Valavannur Block which consists of six Panchayats and later throughout the district. Muhammed Ameen (16) who died of diphtheria at the MCH on Saturday was not vaccinated due to the resistance from the family.
Two students from the district with suspected diphtheria are still under observation at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for a week. However, their health condition is stble. According to the health authorities, the results of the detailed examination of their throat samples is yet to come.
