The Dakshina Kannada district in Mangaluru, Karnataka achieved 95.1% coverage in the pulse polio drive. This target was achieved on Sunday by administering drops to 1,36,280 out of 1,43,252 children below the age of five years.
The pulse polio drive was carried across the Dakshina Kannada district. The district-level pulse polio drive was initiated by corporator Poornima at Lady Goschen Hospital. Previously, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Thimmaiah HR cited that the pursuit of the drive is to administer polio drops to 98,762 children from rural areas and 44,580 children from the urban areas of the district.
Dr. Jacintha D’Souza, DMO, and medical superintendent of Wenlock District Hospital, Dr. Durgaprasad MR, medical superintendent of Lady Goschen Hospital, Dr. BV Rajesh, RCH officer, Sadashiva Shanbhag, district surveillance officer, and Jyothi district health education officer were present at the drive.
To aid the immense action the health department set out 921 booths, 4 mobile booths, and 37 transit teams to provide polio drops to the children. The transit teams were stationed at bus stands, railway stations, and airports.
The District Health Officer said that 3,840 vaccinations, 183 supervisors, and passionate volunteers also took part in this drive. He also expressed that 298 teams were arranged for the high-risk areas and 1,650 teams were arranged for non-high-risk areas.
Dr. Thimmaiah said “India is a polio-free nation, but we are cautious since the disease is reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan”. He also said that there are chances for the spread of polio from the neighboring countries, by administering drops of vaccine can protect the children from the disease.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina)