Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district has administered pulse polio drops to over 88% of children, in the first phase of the intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme, according to DHO Dr. Ramaksrishna.

The department has identified more than 1.68 lakh children for the campaign and Sunday’s vaccination has reached a little more than 1.49 lakh children.

The figures also included 665 children from various settlement colonies, as many as 921 booths to administer polio drops have been set up across the district even as 26 transit teams and 10 mobile units would move from place to place to administer the drops.

The second phase of the drive will be undertaken on February 22.

Earlier, Mayor Mahabala Marla launched the programme at Lady Goshen Hospital, in the district by administering polio drops to an infant. He hoped that the drive would cover all the children in the district. Deputy Commissioner A.B Ibrahim and district health officials to administered polio drops on the occasion.

In Udupi

Udupi district has achieved 95% success in the pulse polio vaccination drive. The total numbers of the children in the district are over 88, 000 and the polio drops have been administer to over 84,000 children. Udupi taluk has achieved 93%, Kundapura 98% and Karkala 97%.

Earlier in the day, MLA Pramod Madhwaraj said that though India had been declared as polio-free country, parents should be cautious and ensure that it does not recur. Health workers will visit houses on January 19 and 20 to ensure all the children in vaccinated.