A total of 2,03,405 children have been administered oral polio vaccine in the district as part of the Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) programme. With this, the district achieved 89.33 per cent coverage in the polio eradication drive.
The target was 2,27,698 children. Health volunteers were expected to cover the rest of the children on Monday and Tuesday, said the district health authorities. The volunteers administered vaccine to 4,391 children of the migrant population in the district.
Minister K. Babu inaugurated the district-level Pulse Polio Immunisation programme. “We need to revive the acclaimed health model of the State,” he said.
Benny Behnan, MLA, presided over the function. He called for upgrading the medical college at Kalamassery as one of the best institutes in the State. “A master plan needs to be made for its development,” he said.
The oral polio vaccine was given to children below five years at special booths set up at all government hospitals, anganwadis, bus stands, railway stations, boat jetties and the airport. There were 1,858 polio booths in the district. Mobile vaccination centres in vans reached tribal villages and colonies where workers from other States were residing.
