Mysore/Mysuru: “The Pulse Polio Campaign will be held from June 28 to July 1 in the district and the authorities should ensure that no children aged 0-5 years are left out of the drive,” said Distinct Health Officer (DHO) Dr. P.C. Kumaraswamy.

He was speaking after presiding over the District Task Force Co-ordination Committee of National Pulse Polio Campaign at the ZP Hall here recently.

Pointing out that as many as 1,641 booths across the district will be set up for the campaign, he said parents should bring their children aged 0-5 years to the booths on June 28 for getting the polio drops administered, regardless of whether they have been immunised previously.

“The Health Department staff will launch a door-to door drive for administering polio drops from June 29 to July 1. The staff should ensure that no child is left out of the campaign,” he noted.

Continuing, the DHO said that as many as 7,78,059 houses and  2,19,521 children aged 0-5 years have been identified in the district for administration of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).

Noting that 1,641 booths will be set up in the district for administering OPV, he said that as many as 6,772 vaccinators and 328 supervisors will be deputed for the purpose. A total of 1,396 high risk areas have been identified, including the places where construction workers, brick factory workers and migrant workers live. Also, 51 mobile teams have been formed to carry out OPV drive. The officials should focus more on high risk areas.

Polio-free nation

Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Officer Dr. Mohammed Siraj Ahmed, who also addressed the meeting, said that the last polio case was reported in the country in 2011.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) too declared India as a Polio-free nation. However, as polio cases have been reported from neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, India, as a precautionary measure, has continued its Pulse Polio Campaign, which is a massive nationwide immunisation programme launched by Union Govt. in 1995 to completely eliminate polio, he said.

Transit booths

“Transit booths will be set up at Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hill and other prominent tourist spots in city on June 28,” he added.

Health Department Officers Dr. Gopinath, Dr. Nagaraj, Dr. Brinda, Dr. Suvarna, Dr. Ravikumar, Dr. Eshwar, Dr. Puttathayamma and others were present.