About 1.73 lakh children were administered the polio drops at 951 centres in the district – 70 in the two municipal limits and rest 881 in panchayat union areas in the first phase of the pluse polio campaign here on Sunday.
Another eight mobile centres also functioned in various parts of the district.
T. P. Rajesh inaugurated the campaign at the primary health centre in Bargur. More than 3,800 government employees and members of Rotary Clubs participated in the campaign.
In Dharmapuri, polio drops were administered to 1.60 lakh children at 923 permanent centres which functioned in government hospitals, primary health centres, health sub-centres etc.
Besides, 36 mobile centres and 25 special mobile committees too were pressed into service.
P. Palaniappan, Minister for Higher Education, inaugurated the campaign at the special centre at the Pappirettipatti bus stand. K. Vivekanandana, District Collector, presided.
More than 3,800 health department and other government staff and members of Rotary Clubs worked for the success of the campaign in the district.
In Salem, more than 3.7 lakh children were administered polio drops.
Edappadi K. Palanisamy, Highways and Minor Ports Minister, inaugurated the campaign in the district by administering the polio drops to a few children at the centre set up by the Corporation at Kumarasamipatti. S. Soundappan, Mayor, V. Panneerselvam, MP, and K.R. Selvaraj, Corporation Commissioner, were present.
A total of 2,255 centres, including 179 centres in the corporation limits, were set up across the district for administering polio drops. Special centres were set up in railway stations, bus stands, places of worship, shandies etc for this purpose. A total of 27 mobile centres and 73 special mobile teams were also involved in the campaign.
Mobile teams
The special mobile teams concentrated in administering drops to children of gypsies, roadside dwellers etc.
More than 9,200 government staff and members of the Rotary Clubs were involved in the project, according to official sources.
In Namakkal , polio drops were administered to about 1.50 lakh children in 1,198 centres in the district.
District Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy inaugurated the campaign at the Government Headquarters Hospital here.
Rural areas
While 1,079 centres were set up in rural areas, 119 functioned in the municipal limits. A total of 48 mobile centres and another 36 mobile special teams were also pressed into service in the district to cover the entire target group.
About 5,000 government staff and members of Rotary Clubs extended a helping hand for the success of the campaign in the district.
Special camps
The Namakkal branch of the Indian Medical Association organised a special camp for administering polio drops and M. Mallikka, its president, inaugurated the same.
