Uttar Pradesh must be an infectious mess right now. Hundreds have died of encephalitis, hundreds more have frozen to death, lots of cholera, typhoid, and even a few mystery illnesses, and now this.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-...-dearth-of-information-cripples-drive/566858/
As polio plays havoc, dearth of information cripples drive
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Maulshree Seth
Posted: Jan 13, 2010 at 0449 hrs IST
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Lucknow Even as Uttar Pradesh is gaining the dubious recognition of being the ?epicentre of polio virus?, the state government has not printed any posters and banners since May for the information, education and communication (IEC) activity of its pulse polio programme.
This, despite the Government of India issuing clear instructions and laying down detailed guidelines to print banners, posters and put up billboards before each pulse polio drive to spread public awareness.
The last time the state government had printed posters and banners for the campaign was during the polio drive held last May.
?The state government has dropped the IEC activity from its polio programme. Besides guidelines issued by the Centre, funds are also given to the state each financial year,? said an official.
It June 2009, Dr Anil Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Union Ministry of Health, had written a letter to the state government requesting it to undertake the IEC activities in accordance with the set guidelines.
In the letter, Kumar had outlined the details: Four posters per booth at the cost of Rs 4 per poster, at least one banner per booth at the cost of Rs 40 each and one billboard per 200 booths at the cost of Rs 2,000 each.
Dr P K Jain, Chief Medical Officer, Badaun, said: ?We are unable to put banners and posters for the polio drive because the supply of these materials is done at the state level and we have not been receiving supply for the past few months. As a result, we have to depend upon whatever is provided by the Rotary International.?
Ajay Saxena of the Rotary International polio plus committee said: ?The IEC activity should start at least a week before each drive. We are making all efforts to provide some of the campaign material, but we have limited resources and cannot cater to the entire state. We have requested the government to not stop printing the materials, but we are still awaiting their response.?
Pointing out that the number of polio cases are increasing drastically, Saxena said: ?Even this week, of the 18 new polio cases reported in the country, 15 are from Uttar Pradesh.?
According to the guidelines laid down, the state pulse polio media committee headed by State Principal Secretary, Health, is expected to meet before each drive to decide on the details of the IEC activity.
Sources inform that in the state pulse polio media committee meeting, which took place on December 30, it was decided that there was no need of such publicity material in the state.
For the ongoing drive, 1.10 lakh booths have been identified and the estimated cost of IEC material has been evaluated to be around Rs 70 lakh.
Dr K K Kaushik, Joint Director, Information, State Education and Communication Wing, said, ?It has been decided that since the programme is already widely known, there is no need for publication of banners and posters. So far, we do not have the approval to print these materials.?
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-...-dearth-of-information-cripples-drive/566858/
As polio plays havoc, dearth of information cripples drive
Font Size -A +A
Maulshree Seth
Posted: Jan 13, 2010 at 0449 hrs IST
Print Email To Editor Post Comments
Most Read ArticlesRelated Articles21 Indians detained in China; India seeks Co...
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Lucknow Even as Uttar Pradesh is gaining the dubious recognition of being the ?epicentre of polio virus?, the state government has not printed any posters and banners since May for the information, education and communication (IEC) activity of its pulse polio programme.
This, despite the Government of India issuing clear instructions and laying down detailed guidelines to print banners, posters and put up billboards before each pulse polio drive to spread public awareness.
The last time the state government had printed posters and banners for the campaign was during the polio drive held last May.
?The state government has dropped the IEC activity from its polio programme. Besides guidelines issued by the Centre, funds are also given to the state each financial year,? said an official.
It June 2009, Dr Anil Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Union Ministry of Health, had written a letter to the state government requesting it to undertake the IEC activities in accordance with the set guidelines.
In the letter, Kumar had outlined the details: Four posters per booth at the cost of Rs 4 per poster, at least one banner per booth at the cost of Rs 40 each and one billboard per 200 booths at the cost of Rs 2,000 each.
Dr P K Jain, Chief Medical Officer, Badaun, said: ?We are unable to put banners and posters for the polio drive because the supply of these materials is done at the state level and we have not been receiving supply for the past few months. As a result, we have to depend upon whatever is provided by the Rotary International.?
Ajay Saxena of the Rotary International polio plus committee said: ?The IEC activity should start at least a week before each drive. We are making all efforts to provide some of the campaign material, but we have limited resources and cannot cater to the entire state. We have requested the government to not stop printing the materials, but we are still awaiting their response.?
Pointing out that the number of polio cases are increasing drastically, Saxena said: ?Even this week, of the 18 new polio cases reported in the country, 15 are from Uttar Pradesh.?
According to the guidelines laid down, the state pulse polio media committee headed by State Principal Secretary, Health, is expected to meet before each drive to decide on the details of the IEC activity.
Sources inform that in the state pulse polio media committee meeting, which took place on December 30, it was decided that there was no need of such publicity material in the state.
For the ongoing drive, 1.10 lakh booths have been identified and the estimated cost of IEC material has been evaluated to be around Rs 70 lakh.
Dr K K Kaushik, Joint Director, Information, State Education and Communication Wing, said, ?It has been decided that since the programme is already widely known, there is no need for publication of banners and posters. So far, we do not have the approval to print these materials.?