THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The statewide pulse Polio immunization programme for Polio prevention will be held on February 27, Sunday. The state-level inauguration will be done by Health Minister Veena George at Pathanamthitta.

Amid the current Covid scenario, Polio drops will be distributed strictly adhering to Covid guidelines, assuring the safety of the children. The goal is to administer Polio drops to 24,36,298 children, up to the age of five, through specially set up booths.

As many as 24,614 booths including mobile and transit booths will be functioning on Sunday. Around 49,228 volunteers and 2,183 supervisors have been trained for the programme, said the health minister.

Mothers should take special care to bring their children for taking the drops at the time prescribed the health workers, in order to avoid congestion in the booths, which will function from 8 am till 5 pm. The drops will be distributed via the booths in schools, anganwadis, libraries and health institutions, the transit booths in bus stands, railway stations and airports and the mobile booths in tourist places and migrant labourer’s camps.

The minister urged those in the Polio booths and those carrying children to strictly follow the Covid guidelines. The pulse Polio immunization programme has been organized in collaboration with the local bodies, various departments and other voluntary organizations.

No polio cases have been reported in Kerala since 2000 and in India since 2011. The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared India as a Polio free country in March 2014. However, as the disease is still reported in the neighbouring countries, it is necessary to continue administering Polio drops to the children in our country, in order to prevent the spread of the disease. Everyone should ensure that their children under the age of five are vaccinated against Polio, urged the minister.