Dakshina Kannada achieves 97.2% Pulse Polio immunisation coverage
Dakshina Kannada district has achieved a 97.2% immunisation coverage under the Pulse Polio programme, with over 1.3 lakh children receiving the polio vaccine. The drive, conducted on Sunday, aimed to protect children under five years of age from polio.
Puttur exceeds target with 102.4% coverage
The Puttur taluk recorded the highest coverage at 102.4%, administering pulse polio drops to 19,725 children against a target of 19,266. This was confirmed by district health officials who monitored the campaign across all taluks.
District Health Officer Dr. Ramachandra Bairy said that the overall coverage exceeded expectations. “We had set a target of 1,35,000 children, and we have successfully vaccinated 1,31,220 children. The remaining children will be covered in the mop-up rounds,” he said.
Details of taluk-wise performance
The campaign covered all taluks in the district. Mangalore taluk achieved 96.5% coverage, Bantwal 97.8%, Belthangady 98.1%, and Sullia 99.0%. The health department deployed 1,200 teams, including mobile teams, to reach children in remote areas.
According to the district immunisation officer, the success was due to extensive awareness campaigns and coordination with anganwadi workers and ASHA workers. “We used local media and community leaders to spread the message,” he added.
No polio cases reported in district
Dakshina Kannada has not reported any polio cases in recent years. The Pulse Polio programme is a part of the national effort to maintain India’s polio-free status, which was certified by the World Health Organization in 2014. The district administration has urged parents to ensure their children receive all doses.
The health department will conduct a two-day mop-up round next week to cover children who missed the vaccination. Officials said that 100% coverage is the goal to prevent any resurgence of the disease.
