Drop against Polio
A child being administered polio drops in the city on Sunday.The second phase of administering polio drops to children in the 0-5 age group was carried out on Sunday across the district, as part of a nation-wide programme. The first phase was carried out last month.The district had a target of covering over 5.2 lakh children through 2,192 centres, including Government hospitals, Coimbatore Corporation health centres, primary health centres and also mobile booths at railway stations, bus stands and the airport.Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy administered the first drops to a child at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital to start the programme. District Collector Neeraj Mittal, district health and hospital authorities were present.Mayor R. Venkatachalam administered the drops to a child at Sitalakshmi Maternity Centre, which was one of the 196 immunisation centres in the city. Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik and Health Committee Chairman P. Nachimuthu and Corporation health officials were present.
Our Staff Reporter from Tirupur reports: In Tirupur health district, more than 2 lakh children were administered the vaccine. The district covers Udumalpet, Madathukulam, Kudimangalam, Palladam, Pongalur, Avanashi and Annur areas. (These children were part of the 5.2 lakh target for the entire Coimbatore revenue district)Tirupur Mayor K. Selvaraj inaugurated the second phase of the campaign. Official sources said that over 2 lakh children were given the drops.Social welfare, municipal, health and revenue officials along with volunteers from Rotary Clubs and other service organisations had reached the target, they said. They had set up 963 camps in the region including 79 in Tirupur city.Corporation Commissioner M. Ashokan said they had exceeded the target by administering polio vaccine to 49,855 children against the estimated 47,634 children in the city.Special camps functioned at railway stations and bus stands.
