Hyderabad, Oct 12 (UNI) The Pulse Polio programme was launched today morning by Dr Sangeetha Satyanarayana, Commissioner of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Telangana, at the Government Girls High School, West Maredupalli, Hyderabad.
The programme was held with an aim to administer polio drops to 17,32,171 children below five years of age across six districts of the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sangeetha informed that 6,897 booths have been set up for the drive. Children aged 0-5 years will receive polio drops at these booths on Sunday, while health staff will conduct visits on October 13 and 14 to ensure that no child is left out. In Hyderabad district, house-to-house visits will be carried out on October 15 to administer drops to any remaining children.
To support the drive, 259 mobile teams, 138 transit points, and 576 route supervisors have been deployed for effective monitoring and supervision. A total of 19,10,400 doses of the polio vaccine have been distributed to the participating districts.
Dr Sangeetha stated that the massive immunisation effort involves 9,110 women health workers (MPHA-F), 6,705 ASHA workers, and 6,574 Anganwadi workers. In addition, members of Mahila Mandals, MEPMA and SERP groups, nursing and paramedical students, voluntary organisations, and teachers are actively participating in the campaign.
To raise public awareness, banners, audio and video clips have been circulated in all six districts, and the programme has been widely publicised through print and electronic media.
During the inaugural event, about 60 children under five years received their polio drops from Commissioner Dr Sangeetha herself. She appealed to all parents to ensure that every child below five receives the vaccine to help maintain a polio-free Telangana.
Senior officials including Dr Venkati (DM&HO, Hyderabad), Dr Sudheera (Joint Director, CHI Programme), Dr Sai Baba, Dr. Srikanth, Dr Jayashree, Dr Srikala (DIO Incharge), Dr Ashrita Reddy (PO NCD), District Media Officer Jakkula Ramulu, Dr Vishal, Statistical Officer Peterson, along with other programme officers, health staff, and ASHA workers, were present at the launch event.