Hyderabad: The statewide pulse polio immunisation programme recorded an impressive response on the first day, with the health department administering oral polio vaccine to over 38.9 lakh children, covering 95.1% of the target population. The state aims to immunise over 40.9 lakh children below the age of five as part of its annual campaign to keep Telangana polio-free.Health and family welfare commissioner Dr Sangeetha Satyanarayana expressed satisfaction over the public response, noting that a large number of parents brought their children to pulse polio booths across the state. She credited the success of the campaign to the coordinated efforts of medical and health department staff, ASHA workers, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, local public representatives, and voluntary organisations.The commissioner said the programme was implemented successfully across all districts. Rangareddy recorded the highest coverage at 99%, followed by Bhadradri Kothagudem (98.9%), Medak (98.6%), Mulugu and Wanaparthy (98.2% each), and Jayashankar Bhupalapally (98.1%). Hyderabad district registered 93.1% coverage.To ensure no eligible child is left out, health officials will conduct a door-to-door campaign on Monday and Tuesday to vaccinate children who missed the booth-based programme. Dr Sangeetha said the follow-up drive is being carried out under the directions of health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha.Earlier, launching the national pulse polio programme at Borabanda UPHC, Damodar Rajanarsimha said the state had drawn up an action plan to administer polio drops to nearly 42 lakh children below the age of five. “We have established 2,229 pulse polio booths and deployed 903 mobile transit teams, besides thousands of ANMs, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and supervisors, to ensure the campaign reaches every eligible child,” he said.The minister appealed to parents to ensure that all children aged below five years receive the mandatory two drops of the oral polio vaccine during the three-day campaign being held from June 28 to 30. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar were also present at the launch.
