Chitradurga district launches an intensive four-day Pulse Polio programme to immunize all eligible children below five years.
Chitradurga
The Chitradurga district administration has announced that the National Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme will be conducted from December 21 to 24, with a target of administering the polio vaccine to 1,26,361 children below the age of five. Chairing the district-level coordination meeting at the DC office on Monday, Additional Deputy Commissioner B.T. Kumaraswamy instructed officials to ensure that no eligible child is left out of vaccination coverage.
He said that the target includes 98,279 children in rural areas and 28,082 children in urban zones. Emphasizing the importance of comprehensive planning, he urged officials from the Health Department, School Education Department, Women and Child Development Department, and other wings to work collectively to achieve 100% vaccination. He further stressed the need to raise awareness about the serious consequences of polio and encourage families to get their children immunized without fail.
At the taluk level, Tahsildars have been directed to hold coordination meetings and focus on high-risk areas by setting up well-organized Pulse Polio booths. ASHA and Anganwadi workers must participate actively, ensuring that every household is reached during the programme.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. G.P. Renu Prasad shared that preparations have been completed with 1,091 vaccination centres, 63 transit points, and 15 mobile teams. A total of 2,338 vaccinators and 239 supervisors have been deployed to oversee and implement the programme effectively.
RCH Officer Dr. Abhinav informed that booth-level vaccination will be held on December 21, followed by door-to-door visits from December 22 to 24. He also highlighted past vaccination achievements, noting that the district vaccinated 1,54,572 children in 2021, 1,56,132 in 2022, 1,55,729 in 2023, and 1,42,851 children in 2024. Typically, 95% of children are covered at booth level, with the remaining vaccinated during home visits.