Hyderabad witnessed the official launch of its crucial pulse polio campaign on Sunday, led by District Collector Hari Chandana Dasari. She personally administered polio vaccine drops to children, marking the start of this vital health initiative at locations like Housing Board Colony in Bagh Lingampally and the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Tilak Nagar.
Deepthi, a Medical Officer at the UPHC, highlighted the extensive efforts made to inform and encourage local parents. “Our dedicated staff have worked tirelessly to raise awareness, ensuring that as many parents as possible bring their children forward for this essential vaccination,” she stated.
This special four-day drive, running from October 12 to 15, is part of a nationwide effort by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, targeting 290 districts across India. In Telangana, the campaign focuses on six specific districts: Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Sangareddy, Hanamkonda, and Warangal. Health officials estimate that an impressive 17.56 lakh (1.756 million) children under the age of five reside in these regions, all slated for vaccination.
Specifically within Hyderabad district, the initiative aims to vaccinate 5.17 lakh (517,000) children under five, reaching 9.36 lakh (936,000) households through a network of 2,636 dedicated vaccination booths. Over 10,635 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and ASHA workers, are actively involved to guarantee the seamless implementation of this drive. To ensure maximum reach, 50 transit points have been strategically established at busy hubs like Secunderabad, Nampally, and Kacheguda railway stations, Ameerpet Metro station, and the MGBS and JBS bus stands. These crucial transit centers will remain operational 24 hours a day until midnight on October 14.
Hyderabad District Medical and Health Officer J. Venkati confirmed a proactive approach, stating, “We’ve pinpointed 164 high-risk areas throughout the district, encompassing construction sites, urban slums, underserved communities, and nomadic settlements. Specialized teams have been dispatched to these locations to guarantee that every single eligible child receives their vaccination.”
Telangana has made significant strides in polio eradication, with the last reported case in Nalgonda district in 2007, and Hyderabad’s last case recorded even earlier, in 1998. Emphasizing the city’s commitment, Ms. Hari Chandana noted that since 2016, Hyderabad has evolved its vaccination strategy, moving from the trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to the bivalent version (bOPV) and integrating the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) into its immunization program.