Bengaluru: Efforts are on to ensure all 11.27 lakh children aged below five years in the city are covered under the pulse polio immunisation drive.

Seeking the same, the first phase of the drive was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by giving a dose of pulse polio immunisation to a child on January 18.

Officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and those from the health department under the Bengaluru (Urban) district are geared to achieve 100 per cent pulse polio coverage, said N. Shantha Kumari, city Mayor, earlier.

Appealing to parents to bring their children aged below five years on both days for the polio drops, she said that 2,970 booths would be set up across the city in all hospitals, markets, railway stations, bus stops, malls, medical colleges and other public places. While the programme will be implemented by the BBMP in 135 wards, the remaining 63 wards will be covered by the health department.

While there will be 447 stationary teams, there will also be 422 mobile teams that will go around the city administering the polio drops. The immunisation drive will see the involvement of 14,358 volunteers.

During the inaugural Health Minister UT Khader was also present.

Simultaneously pulse polio immunization drive was conducted all around different states.

In Mangaluru, the drive was held at Lady Goshen Hospital, where several parents along their infants participated. The drive was inaugurated in the presence of DC A B Ibrahim and Mayor Mahabal Marla.

In Mysuru, Srinivas Prasad District In charge minister, Pushpa Amarnath ZP President L Madappa ZP Vice President, Vasu MLA, inaugurated the programme held at maternity hospital V V Puram.

Raj Kumar Lal Divisional Railway Manager Mysuru participated in the programme held at Mysuru railway station and administered polio drops to children at the station.

More than 360 centres have been opened in place like Bus Stands, near Palace and District Health Centers as well.