The Pulse Polio immunisation campaign for children below the age of five was launched across Kodagu district on Sunday, with public representatives and health officials urging parents to ensure that every eligible child receives the vaccine. Madikeri MLA A.S. Ponnanna administered pulse polio drops to children at his residence-cum-office in Virajpet, while Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda launched the campaign at the Taluk Hospital in Somwarpet by administering the vaccine to children and spreading awareness about the importance of the programme.
Similarly, heads of various organisations participated in the campaign by administering polio drops to children at the Women and Child Health Department of the District Hospital in Madikeri. Speaking on the occasion, MLA A.S. Ponnanna said that although India has been declared polio-free, cases of the disease continue to be reported in some other countries. Therefore, he stressed the need to remain vigilant and called upon parents to ensure that all children below the age of five receive pulse polio drops without fail.
He said timely administration of pulse polio drops plays a crucial role in preventing disabilities caused by polio and urged parents and guardians to cooperate with the Health Department in achieving complete immunisation coverage.
MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda said administering the two drops of pulse polio vaccine to every child below the age of five is essential for protecting children against the disease. Although India has eliminated polio, the disease continues to exist in several countries, posing a risk of re-emergence. Hence, it is important to vaccinate every eligible child during every round of the Pulse Polio programme and continue efforts towards complete eradication of the disease, he said.
Indian Red Cross Society President Ravindra Rai said several international and national organisations, including the United Nations, Rotary International and the Red Cross, have joined hands with governments across the world in the mission to eradicate polio.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Satish Kumar said there are 29,011 children below the age of five in Kodagu district, including 26,373 children in rural areas and 2,638 children in urban areas. He added that migrant children residing in the district have also been identified and included in the immunisation drive.
RCH Officer Dr. Madhusudan said 471 vaccination booths had been established across the district for the Pulse Polio campaign. In addition, 33 transit booths had been set up at bus stands, tourist destinations and other crowded locations to ensure wider coverage, while one mobile vaccination team had been deployed in Madikeri taluk.
He further said that 1,952 vaccinators and 84 supervisors had been deployed to implement the campaign successfully across the district.
Dr. Madhusudan also informed that door-to-door visits would be conducted to administer polio drops to children who were missed during the main campaign. The follow-up drive would be carried out on June 29 and 30 in rural areas, and from June 29 to July 1 in urban areas, to ensure that no eligible child is left out. Taluk Medical Officer Dr. Sanath Kumar, Dr. Yathiraju, Dr. Indudar, Rotary members Manohar Kamath and Ratan Thammaiah, Dr. Chandrashekhar,
