PULSE POLIO DRIVE IN DIST. TOMORROW 

He told reporters in a press meet that 6,320 volunteers supervised by 316 supervisors will administer the polio drops to a target children's population of 3,04,401 below five years comprising 2,08,722 rural and 95,679 urban children in the district in the second round on Sunday. The polio drops will be administered in 1,580 centres, of which 1,280 are rural and 300 are urban, Selvakumar disclosed. Polio drops will also be administered at Railway Station and Bus stands, he added.

Volunteers will reach even remote locations including dwellings of the tribals, Selvakumar said. First round was held on Jan. 7, 2007 with 99.37 per cent success, he disclosed. A success rate of 100 per cent has been aimed at this time, he added.

In view of the bandh call on Monday, Feb. 12, the programme will be continued from Feb. 13 to 15 to cover the left over children, Selvakumar said. India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan were the only four countries where polio was still prevalent, he said. Last year, 665 cases of polio were reported in India, he said, adding that all the cases were from North Indian States. Thus, South India was totally free from polio, he said. It was necessary to maintain that,
he added.

Dr. P.K. Srinivas, District Health Officer and S. Palaiah, Head Quarters Assistant to Deputy Commissioner were present. Selvakumar has requested all the parents of the beneficiaries to avail themselves of the programme.