The Health department has made elaborate arrangements for the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme to be held on January 10 and February 7.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, District Collector, S. Lalithambika and District Medical Officer, A.R. Ayshabai, said the programme was aimed at polio eradication by administering vaccine to all children below the age of five years on the same day.
Though no cases of polio have been reported from any part of the State in recent years, there were reports of polio cases from certain North Indian States, leaving chances of the virus spreading to Kerala too through the floating population. The Government has been organising Pulse Polio immunisation programme in Kerala too, along with various other States, in the backdrop of this risk factor, they said.
Ms. Lalithambika said as many as 88,942 children in the district would be administered with polio vaccine on these two days. She said a total of 1,070 pulse polio booths have been set up in different parts of the district for the smooth conduct of the immunisation programme.
The DMO said the pulse polio booths would be opened at various Primary Health Centres, sub-centres, Anganwadis and schools, besides at various major bus stations, Thiruvalla Railway Station and various other public places in different parts of the district. The pulse polio booths will be kept open from 8 am to 5 pm on these two days, she added.
Dr Ajakumari, Deputy District Medical Officer, Dr Laila Divakar, RCH Officer and Dr P.N.Vidyadharan, District Programme Manager of `Arogya Keralom’ project were also present.
