Chandel Launches Drive to Protect Children Against Polio

Imphal: Health officials in Chandel kicked off the 2026 National Immunization Day and Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization campaign on Sunday. The push aims to vaccinate every child under five years old. Teams set up booths at the Chandel Christian Community Hall and across the district to start the drive. More than 5,000 children are the target of this effort.

District Immunization Officer Dr. B Cingdeihnieng led the initial briefing. She explained that health teams will spend two days visiting homes to find children who missed the booth sessions. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joyson Mathew Monsang warned that the threat of polio still exists despite India being polio-free since 2014. He told workers they must stay alert to prevent the disease from returning.

Chief Guest and SDO Reikimdaar Khaling officially opened the program. She pushed for total coverage and told parents to take the drops seriously. She noted, "Together, We Can Eradicate Polio — A Drop Today, A Safe Tomorrow" must reach every household. Local village chiefs, WHO monitors, and medical staff joined the event to show support for the wide-reaching health initiative.