Mangaluru: Around 1.65 lakh children below 5 years will be immunised against polio in the district during a two-phase Pulse Polio programme on April 2 and 30, focusing mainly on children of migrant workers.

Disclosing the details, District Health Officer (DHO) Ramakrishna Rao said, it is mandatory for parents and guardians to subject children below 5 years to immunisation against Polio to ensure the nation remains free from the disease in the future. Last case of Polio was reported in Howrah of West Bengal on January 13, 2011 and eventually India was declared Polio free on Jan 14, 2014, exactly after three years, Ramakrishna Rao explained.

The last case of Polio in Dakshina Kannada district was reported in 1999. However, children living in unhygienic conditions and those belonging to migrant workers are more susceptible to the diseases and hence the emphasis to include them in this year’s programme, revealed Ramakrishna Rao.

The district has 1,64,965 children in the below 5 age group and 8515 belong to children of migrant labour community, DHO Rao stated.

Around 921 vaccination centres have been set up in the district along with 9 transit squads and 27 transit centres. Around 3816 personnel will be involved in the immunisation drive monitored by 199 senior staff, DHO Rao said.

In the first phase, vaccination will be done on April 3 at booth level followed by house visits on 4th and 5th in city limits whereas in village limits it will be on April 4 only, DHO Rao clarified.

The Measles -Rubella vaccination (MR-Vac) campaign will conclude on March 19, Ramakrishna Rao added.