Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor and Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna launched the pulse polio vaccination programme by administering the vaccine to a child at the Gonikoppa Community Health Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Ponnanna appealed to parents to ensure mandatory polio vaccination for all children under five years of age. He stressed the need to include migrant children in the programme and ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
He further stated that vaccination should be carried out at tourist centres as well, noting the large influx of tourists into Kodagu district during weekends.
Madikeri Municipal Council President P. Kalavathi administered the polio vaccine to a child at a daycare centre in Madikeri.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Sathish Kumar said that polio vaccines would be administered to all children under five years, including migrant and tourist children. He added that door-to-door vaccination would be carried out in urban and rural areas on Monday and Tuesday, and urged parents to ensure vaccination of children who may have been missed.
Director of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Lokesh, District Surgeon Dr. Nanjundayaiah, RCH Officer Dr. Madhusudan, Dr. Sanath Kumar, Head of the Paediatrics Department Dr. Purushottam, Dr. Chethan, Dr. Sukrit, District Programme Managers Devaraju and Savita Kirtan, District Health Education Officer Shanti, Palaksha, Rotary Organisation President Ravindra Rai, Uttaiah, Lions Organisation members Madan, Madhukar, Naveen Ambekallu and others were present.
Artist E. Raju and his team presented an awareness song highlighting the importance of polio vaccination.
