Daijiworld News Network – Mangalore (SS)

Mangalore, Apr 10: The three-day pulse polio drive in Dakshina Kannada district commenced on Sunday April 9, with as many as 1,65,439 children below five years being administered with the pulse polio drops.

The drive in the city was inaugurated by B Nagaraj Shetty, district-in-charge minister, who administered the polio drops to a child at Bejai here. K Ashraf, mayor, Mangalore City Corporation and Chandrappa, MCC Commissioner, were also present.

By immunizing a total of 1,65,439 children below the age group of five years, Dakshina Kannada district has achieved 90.38 per cent immunization rate on the first day of the Pulse Polio campaign.

Mangalore Taluk recorded the lowest rate of immunization. Bantwal and Puttur recorded 94 %, Sullia 92.88 %, Belthangady 90.77 % and Mangalore 87 %.

District health officer Dr Jagannath, informed that a strategy has been planned to make the campaign a success, by a team including himself, Dr Murali, State Monitoring Cell nodal officer, Dr Bharathi Nirmal, district surgeon and Dr P Chandrappa, MCC Commissioner.

In Udupi district the drive was inaugurated by V S Acharya, minister for medical education. Nearly 83,215 children were administered with the pulse polio drops.