GBA Targets 11.34 Lakh Children in Four-Day Pulse Polio Drive Across Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 22: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has set a target of administering Pulse Polio drops to 11.34 lakh children below the age of five during the National Pulse Polio Programme scheduled from June 28 to July 1 across the city.
Chairing a virtual review meeting, GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao directed officials to ensure that information regarding Pulse Polio vaccination centres is made easily accessible to citizens across the five city corporations under the authority’s jurisdiction.
Rao instructed officials to complete all preparations for the four-day immunisation campaign and work towards achieving 100 per cent coverage of eligible children. He also called for extensive public awareness campaigns and directed authorities to coordinate with apartment associations and resident welfare groups to encourage maximum participation in the drive.
Special Commissioner (Health) Venkatachalapathi said awareness programmes should be intensified across the city and suggested involving students from nursing, medical and paramedical colleges as volunteers to ensure every eligible child receives the vaccine.
Officials have also been directed to deploy additional vaccination teams at bus stations, railway stations, Metro stations, markets, shopping malls, parks, tourist destinations, slum areas and other crowded locations. Special focus will be placed on construction sites and migrant worker settlements to ensure no child is left out of the programme.
Chief Health Officer Dr. S.S. Madani said Pulse Polio drops will be administered at designated booths from 8 am to 5 pm on June 28. From June 29 to July 1, health workers will conduct door-to-door visits to vaccinate children who may have missed the booth-based campaign.
He said all children from newborns up to five years of age must receive the mandatory two drops of the polio vaccine. The vaccine will be available at clinics, primary health centres, maternity hospitals, referral hospitals, private hospitals and medical college hospitals across the city.
According to officials, a total of 11,34,988 children below the age of five have been identified as beneficiaries under the campaign. To achieve the target, authorities will establish 4,452 vaccination points, including 3,391 fixed booths, 597 transit teams and 464 mobile teams across the five city corporations.
Commissioners, Joint Commissioners, Health Officers, Deputy Health Officers, Medical Officers and other officials from various departments participated in the review meeting.
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