Date:16/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/16/stories/2005051615340500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

6.10 lakh administered polio drops

Staff Reporter

Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation taken up for the 10th year in succession

POLIO DRIVE: The Governor, Sushil Kumar Shinde, administering polio drops to a child at the College of Nursing in Hyderabad on Sunday, as the MCH Commissioner, Chitra Ramachandran, looks on. Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD: In all 6.10 lakh children below five years were administered polio drops in Sunday's Pulse Polio round in the State capital and surroundings. This is the 10th year that Andhra Pradesh is going about with Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme.

Launching the day's activity at the College of Nursing here, the Governor, Sushil Kumar Shinde, said he was proud to be associated with Andhra Pradesh, a State with a good record and where no case of polio had been reported in the recent past.

Among those present at the inauguration of the programme on Sunday were the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) Commissioner, Chitra Ramachandran, and the Hyderabad District Collector, Arvind Kumar.

Under the MCH limits, the targeted population of children was 6.05 lakhs, but the figure of children administered polio drops at the end of the day was considerably higher as those travelling were also administered the drops. About 3,200 immunisation posts were manned with 12,800 personnel. These apart, there were 50 mobile teams and 6,400 personnel who went about administering the drops house-to-house. Mr. Arvind Kumar said that enough care had been taken to keep the ice supply chain going to ensure that the temperature of the drops did not go beyond the recommended level beyond which, the drops are useless. Enough booths were arranged at transit points including bus and rail stations and the airport, he said.