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Written By: Admin | Updated : June 8, 2013 11:05 PM IST
The child who was infected with a strain of vaccine derived polio virus (VDPV), might have contracted the disease because he missed his timely polio dose. Doctors say that it is mainly due to the fact that the boy s family kept migrating from one place to another, thereby missing the essential second dose.
The child belongs to a family of 19 from Kanhapur village of Dharur taluka where a majority of the villagers work as either migratory labourers or as farmers.
According to H V Wadgave, district reproductive and child health officer, Beed, the child received his second dose only after seven months instead of the ideal period of one month. He added that while the zero polio dose was given in July 2012, and the first dose in September 2012, the second dose was delayed till April 2013.
The baby was administered the zero dose right after birth, but due to the delay in subsequent doses, he suffered from paralysis on the left side in May which was followed by convulsions. His other limbs were eventually paralysed and he was then admitted to a private hospital. On the 9th of May he was moved to Government Medical College, Latur. A team of doctors from Delhi camped in Beed to further investigate the matter. The team visited Kanhapur to supervise the investigation process and chalk out a plan of action for the migratory population to complete the medical rights of its children.
The survey found that 60% of the children in Kanhapur village were fully immunised and 80% of the village was equipped with ideal sanitation facilities. However, the residents of the village were reluctant to use the toilets due to water shortage. Their only sources of drinking water were taps and open defecation was very common.
The team found that out that of the 42 children the team had surveyed, 32 had routine immunisation cards, 25 were completely immunised and 16 were partially immunised. They also found a 15-day-old baby who had not yet received the vaccine and another child from the same family was found to be unimmunised because of their migratory lifestyle. Similar cases of partial immunisation have been found across the village, since families are not aware about the next medical dosage due to constant migration.
