Polio immunisation rate up in Malappuram

KOZHIKODE: A no-holds-barred effort by the health department in Malappuram has shown the result. The district has registered aan almost 2 per cent increase in the pulse polio immunisation rate this time. As many as 95.75 per cent children under the age of five were administered vaccine in the four days from January 29 whereas last time, it was around 94 per cent. Due to the diphtheria deaths reported last year and a fierce resistance against immunisation, health department had kick-started special programmes through schools to increase the immunisation rate.

“Though not a significant increase, the change in the attitude of people is evident. Our effort had borne fruit,” said District Reproductive Child Health (RCH) Officer R. Renuka. Remarkable strides are made in resistance pockets such as Valavannur, Thavanur blocks. Valavannur registered 94.22 per cent of immunisation and Thavanur, 100.98 per cent, the top among the blocks.

Among the blocks, Omanoor is at the bottom, only 89.86 per cent children turning up. In urban centres, Nilambur section topped with 125.51 per cent and Manjeri section the least, 87.46 per cent. Altogether 95.75 per cent is the polio immunisation rate in Urban Malappuram and 95.74 per cent in its rural parts. “Along with our wide campaigning, calls of religious priests, political parties, activities of clubs etc had helped to change the situation,” said an official at district health department.