TMC gears up for pulse polio campaign targeting children under 5 on October 12

The Thane Municipal Corporation TMC will conduct a Pulse Polio Immunisation Drive on October 12 targeting all children under the age of five as per state health department guidelinesThe initiative part of the SubNational Pulse Polio Campaign aims to ensure complete immunisation coverage alongside routine AFP Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance Maharashtra has been observing this annual drive since 1995Polio drops will be provided free of cost at all municipal health centres Authorities have appealed to parents to bring their children aged 0ndash5 years for vaccination to ensure protection against the poliovirusMaharashtra schools to join health drive under Swastha Mahila Sashakta Kutumb AbhiyanThe Maharashtra State School Education Department is preparing to participate in the Swastha Mahila Sashakta Kutumb Abhiyan a campaign launched by the Ministry of Health to conduct health checkups for students and teachers across the state While details of the initiative are still being finalised teachers say such drives are long overdue pointing out that several ailments are specific to their profession among the most common issues varicose veinsldquoMany of my colleagues and I have developed varicose veins after standing for long hours Standing is an essential part of teaching you need to face the class and see every student Class teachers especially are on their feet until recessrdquo said a civicschool teacher from Mahim She added that daily travel worsens the problem ldquoWe often stand in crowded trains too which aggravates it further For now we just massage our legs or use home remediesrdquoIn civicrun schools teachers nearing the age of 55 are already required to undergo mandatory medical checkups and many say those sessions have been eyeopeners ldquoLast year during my health checkup the doctor told me I had dangerously high blood pressure and needed to start medication immediately I had no idea Irsquod been living with it for years These workplace checkups can truly save livesrdquo said another civicschool teacher from BorivliShe added that heavy workloads make it difficult for teachers to prioritise their own health ldquoIrsquove been taking combined classes for months and even bring work home Health checkups usually take a backseatrdquo Teachers also complain of sinus problems caused by chalk dust and persistent throat aches from hours of speaking in classWhile such medical assessments are rare in civic schools privateaided institutions tend to conduct them more frequently ldquoOur teachers have health insurance which includes an annual fullbody checkup We also invite alumni doctors to conduct basic health screenings for teachers and students dental skin and general wellnessrdquo said the principal of a privateaided school in MulundHowever not everyone is convinced about the success of mass workplace health drives ldquoIn todayrsquos age where privacy is a major concern many parents and teachers may opt out of such camps We already have parents refusing to send children for routine school checkupsrdquo the principal added Officials from the state department said more details on the Swastha Mahila Sashakta Kutumb Abhiyan are awaited from the Ministry of Health