Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat launches pulse polio drive in city

Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat launches pulse polio drive in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, January 23: Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat inaugurated the Pulse Polio Immunization Progamme organized by the DK District Health Department as part of the national pulse polio drive at Wenlock Hospital in the presence of DC Subodh Yadav; Dr. O. R. Srirangappa, the district health and family welfare officer; and other hospital authorities.

In his address, Mr. Bhat urged parents and caregivers of all children aged below 5 to see that their children are vaccinated against polio.

The district health department aims to immunize 1,70,721 children between 0 – 5 years of age against polio in this 2-phased drive between Jan 23 and Feb 27. A mop up operation will be held for 2 days in rural areas and for 3 days in urban areas.

Dr. Shrirangappa said that 941 booths, including 20 transit booths, have been raised all over the district as part of the drive. Each booth will have 4 volunteers involved in the task of administering the drops, and they will be monitored by 184 supervisors. The health authorities are also targeting around 1,431 kids of migrant labourers.

Assuring parents and caregivers that they do not have to worry about adverse reactions to polio drops administered to the kids, Dr. Shrirangappa said that a team of doctors, including a pediatrician and a general physician, will be on duty at Wenlock Hospital. He added that administering polio drops to children is safe, except in case of those children who suffer from malnourishment because the drops will not build up immunity in such children.

DC Subodh Yadav was also present on the occasion.