Pulse Polio Drive Begins in Nellore, Ongole; Officials Seek Full Cover
He said the district has 2,44,112 children below five years and special arrangements have been made to ensure 100 per cent coverage over three days
Nellore: The nationwide Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme was launched on Sunday across SPSR Nellore and Prakasam districts, with senior officials administering polio drops to children and urging parents to ensure 100 per cent coverage of all children below five years of age.
In Nellore district, the programme was inaugurated at the Government General Hospital by district medical and health officer Dr V. Sujatha, along with Women and Child Welfare project director Hema Sujan and Nellore Municipal Corporation commissioner Nandan.
Officials said 2,94,604 children under five years have been identified in the district. To achieve full coverage on the first day, 2,396 Pulse Polio booths, 85 transit booths at bus stands and railway stations, and 82 mobile booths covering 403 high-risk areas were set up.
Parents were advised not to postpone vaccination and to bring their children to the booths on Sunday. Children missed on the first day will be covered through door-to-door visits by medical, health and anganwadi staff on December 22 and 23.
In Ongole, district collector P. Rajababu launched the programme at the Rajiv Gruhakalpa Urban Primary Health Centre by administering polio drops to children.
He said the district has 2,44,112 children below five years and special arrangements have been made to ensure 100 per cent coverage over three days. Vaccination booths were established at all urban and rural PHCs, bus stands and railway stations, followed by door-to-door coverage on Monday and Tuesday.
The collector also inspected the Urban PHC, appreciated its facilities, urged people to utilise government healthcare services, and planted saplings on the premises.