The awareness on getting their children vaccinated against polio got so much entrenched in society that Sunday saw a flurry of activity with young parents bringing their children to the nearest Pulse Polio booth in Vijayawada.
Non-Governmental Organisations assisted the district medical and health machinery in supporting the cause of reaching out to more than 5 lakh children below the age of 5 in Krishna district in the first phase, within three days by all means.
While booths were literally set up at every nook and corner, there were mobile booths in some places. There would be door-to-door campaigns too in the next two days.
District Collector S.A.M. Rizvi on Sunday said a target to cover 5 lakh children below five years was set up for Krishna district under the Pulse Polio drive. Mr. Rizvi said children who could not visit the booths on Sunday would be covered under the door-to-door campaign on Monday and Tuesday. He said, of the 2,560 polio centres set up across the district, 589 were in urban pockets.
Pat for Rotarians
Mr. Vishnu complimented the pivotal role played by the Rotarians in the anti-polio drive across the nation. He said the vigorous campaign undertaken by the voluntary organisation had enhanced the awareness level of people at the grassroots level.
Rotary Club of Vijayawada president P. Krishnaji and secretary K. Chantiraju participated.
From the remote tribal hamlets in Macherla mandal to villages located in small islands in Tenali revenue segment, the massive drive part of Universal Immunisation programme saw the involvement of the entire district administration in Guntur. District Medical and Health Officer, M. Gopi Nayak said on Sunday that they had covered 80 per cent of the target of administering the OPV to 4,22,962 children in the district. The drive was held in 2,563 booths across the district. Special counters were set up on the premises of Railway Station and Bus Station Complex.
Minister for Agriculture Kanna Lakshminarayana inaugurated the programme.
