5 lakh children administered oral polio drops

Bangalore: Over five lakh children, below the age of five years, were on Sunday administered oral polio drops in the first phase of the nation-wide pulse polio immunization drive.

BBMP sources said the drive was successful and 83.56 per cent of the children in that age group were administered polio drops. The BBMP had estimated that there are 6.5 lakh children under the age of five are in the city. As many as 5.44 lakh children were administered polio drops in the first phase.

The drops were administered through 2,094 booths and 8,376 workers were deployed for the purpose. The BBMP had also set up 466 stationary and 395 mobile units.

The booths were mainly set up in BBMP’s referral hospitals, maternity homes, urban family and welfare centres. Transit booths were set up at health centres, railway stations, theatres, Cubbon Park, Lalbagh, anganwadi centres and convention halls.

Mayor Katte Satyanarayana said during the occasion, “Since 2007, no fresh cases of polio have been registered in the state and there have been no complaints of polio in the country in the last three years. We want to create awareness extensively.”

Several forms of communication like banners, radio advertisements and pamphlets were used to create awareness. The BBMP will hold door-to-door polio drops administration drive from Monday.