A child is administered polio drops at a Pulse Polio camp in Vijayawada.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri
District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) E.B. Devi urged everyone in society to contribute their part towards the eradication of polio.
The DMHO flagged off a rally organised as part of the National Pulse Polio awareness programme at the local Arts College grounds in Anantapur on Saturday (June 27, 2026). Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Devi said polio drops would be administered to children under the age of five across the district from June 28 (Sunday) till July 1.
She appealed to parents to ensure their children were given the polio drops, keeping their bright future in mind. She noted that administering polio drops helped protect children from long-term ailments. She called on everyone in the community to make the polio vaccination programme a success.
The DMHO said 2,83,430 children aged between 0 and 5 years had been identified, and 5,247 staff members deployed for administering polio drops. Polio drops would be administered at a total of 1,623 booths across rural and urban areas.
Special units and mobile teams have been set up at bus stands, railway stations and public gathering points. Emphasising that public participation is key to the success of the Pulse Polio programme, she appealed to people to bring all children under the age of five to the polio centres.
The rally began at the Arts College, proceeded via the Clock Tower to Saptagiri Circle with participants carrying placards and slogans for a polio-free society, and later formed a human chain. The DMHO administered a pledge to the participants, conveying a message of commitment to polio eradication.
In Kurnool Municipal Corporation limits, 229 centres have been set up to administer polio drops to 82,964 children in the city, Commissioner Challa Obulesu said. He urged parents to take their children to the nearest polio centres and ensure they received the polio drops.
The Commissioner said polio caused permanent disability in children but could be completely prevented through the administration of polio drops. For those unable to visit the booths, special teams would conduct a door-to-door drive on June 29 and 30 to administer the drops.
Published – June 27, 2026 02:03 pm IST
