Yadgir

The Department of Health and Family Welfare will conduct a four-day Pulse Polio Immunisation Drive from July 28 to August 1 to protect every child below five years of age from polio. District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Mahesh Biradar announced the campaign during a press conference held at the District Health Office.

He said the first phase will be conducted on July 28, when children below five years will receive polio drops at 665 vaccination booths across the district. During the second phase, from July 29 to August 1, health workers will visit houses to vaccinate children who could not receive the vaccine on the first day.

According to the department, Yadgir district has 2,47,507 households and a total population of 13,75,679. The target is to vaccinate 1,66,928 children below five years during the campaign.

To ensure every eligible child is covered, the department has formed house-to-house teams, transit teams and mobile teams. A total of 704 field teams, supported by 134 supervisors and 1,391 vaccinators, will participate in the district-wide programme.

RCH Officer Dr. Mallappa Naykal said India has remained free from polio for the past 14 years. However, he said regular vaccination campaigns must continue because polio cases are still being reported in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, creating a risk of the disease returning.

The department has fixed separate targets for all three taluks. Shahapur has 47,915 children below five years, Surpur has 57,944 children, and Yadgir taluk has 61,069 children eligible for vaccination.

Health Education Officer Jagannath Kote, officials of the RCH wing and other Health Department staff attended the press conference. The department appealed to parents to ensure every child below five years receives polio drops during the campaign without fail for complete protection against the disease.