Polio drops administered to 4.82 lakh children in Chittoor

Tirupati: Polio immunisation programme was held in all parts of the district on Sunday. The Joint Collector–2 A Kamala Kumari has inaugurated the programme at Shanmukhananda Primary School in Chittoor by administering the oral dose to children.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that parents should take care of their children below 5 years of age and take them to nearest pulse polio centre which can protect them from physical disability. According to District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr B Ramagiddaiah, a total of 4,82,013 children will be covered under the programme by administering the pulse polio doses to them at 2,984 centres spread over entire district and 124 mobile booths to cover transit points, construction workers and others.

Steps have been taken to administer the dose at bus stands, railway stations and other places. ASHA workers, ANMs, nursing students will go door-to-door to cover those children, who did not come to pulse polio centre. Municipal Commissioner Obulesu, District Immunisation Officer Dr Hanumantha Rao, Dr Ramesh Babu, Dr Janaki, HE Krishna Reddy, CHO Gnanasekhar and others took part. In Tirupati, Municipal Corporation Commissioner V Vijaya Rama Raju has inaugurated the programme and said that 157 centres were established in the corporation limits where 34,000 children will be given the drops.

In Tirumala about, 7,000 children were given the dose at 25 pulse polio centres out of which four centres were earmarked for locals and employees. TTD Tirumala JEO Srinivasa Raju has administered the dose to children before Sri Vari temple on Sunday morning.