Pulse Polio vaccination drive begins in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 19, 2020: District Incharge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary inaugurated the district level Pulse Polio vaccination  programme at the Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru on January 19, Sunday.

Around 1,48,817 children below five years will be administered with pulse polio drops in Dakshina Kannada district.

MAngalore South MLA Vedavys Kamath, Mangalore MLA UT Khader, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Deputy Commissioner Sindu B Rupesh, ZP CEO Selamani, DHO Ramakrishna Rao and others present on the occasion.

DHO Dr Ramakrishna Rao speaking to media persons here on Friday said, a total of 922 booths have been set up to administer polio drops in the district. In addition, there will be seven mobile booths — two in Mangaluru rural, three in Mangaluru City Corporation limits and two in Sullia.

About 28 transit teams will ensure that no child is left out of administering polio drops, at the bus stand, at the railway station and at the airport.

He said that though India is declared free from polio in March 2014, the reports of polio cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where polio is endemic, India cannot afford to drop its guard and has to continue with administering polio drops.

The last polio case in India was registered at Howrah in 2011 and the last case in Dakshina Kannada district was reported in 1999. The last polio case in Karnataka was registered in 2007.

He said this year only one round of pulse polio drive will be held in the country. Priority will be given for children of migrant labourers as well. The health workers will visit houses in rural areas on January 20 and 21 to administer polio drops while they will visit houses from January 20 to 22 in the urban areas. This vital exercise is worthy of the citizens support in all manner.