Over 4.6 lakh kids targeted as Pulse Polio drive begins in Ballari, Raichur

Ballari/Raichur: Nearly 4.6 lakh children below five years will be covered under the four-day National Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign launched across Ballari and Raichur districts on Sunday.The drive will begin with booth-based vaccination on day one, followed by house-to-house visits and mobile teams over the next three days.Ballari has set a target of vaccinating 1,99,703 children between June 28 and July 1. The campaign was launched at the MCH Hospital on the district hospital campus.Mayor P Gadeppa said routine immunisation must continue despite India being declared polio-free in 2014, as it strengthens children’s immunity and ensures a healthy society.

District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority chairman KE Chidanandappa urged parents to ensure every eligible child receives the two-drop vaccine.Health workers will cover around 3.49 lakh households after the first day. The district has deployed 15 mobile teams at hospitals, bus stands and railway stations, and stocked 3,10,143 vaccine doses.Authorities said migrant settlements, construction labour colonies and other high-risk locations will receive special attention.

In neighbouring Raichur, deputy commissioner Poovitha S launched the campaign by administering polio drops to a child at KEB Government Higher Primary School. She urged parents and health staff to ensure no child below five years is missed. She said the vaccination drive remains crucial as neighbouring countries continue to report polio cases.Raichur has set a target of vaccinating 2,60,002 children and stocked 3.29 lakh doses. The district has deployed 1,260 teams, including house-to-house, transit and mobile units, supported by 2,530 vaccinators and 248 supervisors.Health workers will cover over 4.5 lakh households. The campaign will focus on 827 identified high-risk locations, including bus stands, railway stations and marketplaces, with support from medical and nursing institutions.