Date:10/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/10/stories/2006041019130300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

79 p.c. of target children given polio drops

Staff Reporter

In Bangalore, the target was nearly eight lakh children. As many as 32,000 booths were set up

Bangalore: The first round of the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme of 2006 was held all over the State on Sunday. As much as 78.83 per cent of the targeted 73.36 lakh children aged less were covered in the drive. As many as 31,049 booths were set up and 8,663 supervisors and 93,147 vaccinators were involved in administering polio drops to children.

In Bangalore, nearly eight lakh children were expected to be immunised. Around 3,200 booths were set up.

Public-private tie-up

The Global Polio Eradication initiative is a public-private partnership spearheaded by World Health Organisation, United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Union Government and Rotary International.

Booths were set up at hospitals, schools, bus stands and railway stations.

In the next three days volunteers would make house visits to immunise all those children aged under five who were not taken to the booths on the first day.