The second round of pulse polio immunisation drive was conducted across Madurai district on Sunday with a target of covering nearly 2.98 lakh children in the district from 0-5 years of age through 1,600 immunisation booths in rural and urban areas.
Sellur K.Raju, Minister for Cooperation and Madurai District Collector U.Sagayam have formally administered oral polio vaccine to a few children at the pulse polio camp in Primary Health Centre at Kovilpappakudi near here.
A press release from the district administration has said that intensive polio immunisation drive is being carried out every year to eradicate polio completely.
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“The public health department had made elaborate arrangements for the Sunday's anti-polio drive. In the first round of immunisation held on February 19, totally 2.97 lakh children up to five years of age were administered polio drops. In the second round too, the district administration and Health Department have geared up to make sure that no child will miss the immunisation,” the press release said.
An appeal was also made to the parents to cooperate with the authorities and State Government in total eradication of polio. Immunisation booths were there at all public places, including railway station, bus stand and airport.
V. Shanmughasundaram, Deputy Director of Health Services, Madurai district, and other officials attended the inaugural camp at Kovilpappakudi PHC.
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Elaborate arrangements were made by the Madurai Corporation for Sunday's pulse polio immunisation drive. Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa inaugurated the polio camp at E.O.C.Maternity Centre in Maapalayam.
According to a press release from the Corporation, there were 252 immunisation booths besides two mobile booths to cover children in transit.
Polio drops were administered to children at public places such as Maatuthavani Bus Stand, Periyar Bus Stand, Rajaji Park, ECO Park and Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
In Madurai Corporation area, 1,23,208 children up to five years of age were given oral polio vaccine, the press release said. R.Gopalakrishnan, Deputy Mayor, and V.Subramanian, City Health Officer, were among those who participated in the inaugural function.
Health department officials said that door-to-door verification will be undertaken in the next two days to administer polio vaccine to those children who missed on Sunday.