Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, June 28:The district-level Pulse Polio immunisation programme for Dakshina Kannada was formally launched on Sunday morning at Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru, marking the start of a large-scale public health drive across the region.

The programme was inaugurated by MLC Ivan D’Souza, who administered polio drops to children, officially kicking off the campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the importance of parental responsibility in ensuring full immunisation coverage. “It is the duty of parents to ensure that every child under the age of five is given the polio vaccine. Every child is a national asset. Hence, their health must be given due importance,” he said.

District health and family welfare officer Dr H R Thimmaiah, Lady Goschen Hospital superintendent Dr M R Durga Prasad, health department officials Dr B V Rajesh, health education officer Jyothi Ulepaadi, and other officials were present at the event.

1.40 lac children targeted across district

Health officials said the district aims to cover 1,40,677 children aged 0–5 years under the Pulse Polio campaign. To achieve this, a total of 756 booths have been set up across Dakshina Kannada.

In addition, 26 transit teams and three mobile teams have been deployed in Mangaluru city to ensure children on the move are not left out of the vaccination drive.

The transit teams have been stationed at bus stands, railway stations and airports, as well as key pilgrimage centres such as Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala and Kateel, to administer polio drops to eligible children.

Authorities further noted that special arrangements have been made to cover around 506 migrant children in the district as part of the drive, according to Dr H R Thimmaiah.