MADURAI: As part of intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) campaign, a total of 3.15 lakh children up to the age of five years would be administered oral polio vaccine in Madurai district on Sunday. All arrangements have been made by the Health Department to cover the targeted figure and vaccine stocks have already been moved to immunisation points across the district. The last round of the campaign was carried out on April 10 when 3,10,169 children were given the vaccine.

The Deputy Director of Health Services, S. Shanmughasundaram, said more children would be given polio drops this time as special attention was attached to the floating population and high-risk areas in various blocks. There would be 1,600 pulse polio booths in the district, of which Madurai city would have 302. He said eight mobile teams would be deployed to target places with floating population. More than 6,500 personnel drawn from various government departments and voluntary organisations would be on immunisation duty. "The aim is to ensure that not a single child below the age of five years is left out in the district. Even new-born children have to be given the vaccine."

Polio drops will be administered at all booths between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. while the mobile teams will be doing the rounds at railway stations, bus stands, places of worship, parks and public places.

Seven high-risk areas

In Madurai district, seven places have been identified as `high risk areas,' of which four — Kombaikadu, Meenakshipuram, Angappankottam and Thaniparai — were in rural areas. The urban high-risk areas were Thideer Nagar, N. M. R. Puram and Karumbalai. "The department would undertake follow-up immunisation for the left-out children by a door-to-door survey on May 16 and 17.

Southern Railway

The Madurai Division of Southern Railway has made elaborate arrangements for immunisation and booths will be operated at Railway Hospital, SRWWO Matriculation School and Old Railway Colony. Two pulse polio booths will be set up in Madurai Railway Junction in collaboration with the Corporation to cover children travelling by trains. Also, booths would operate at railway stations in Dindigul, Palani, Pollachi, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Shenkottah, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Rameswaram, Manamadurai and Karaikudi.

A press release from the Southern Railway said 15 mobile teams would cover railway colonies.

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