Health Minister launches statewide pulse polio drive targeting 49 lakh children

Minister of Health Y. Satya Kumar Yadav on Sunday launched the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme at the Urban Primary Health Centre in the Industrial Estate, Visakhapatnam. He administered polio drops to children, marking the start of a four-phase drive aimed at immunising 49.2 lakh children under five years of age across the state.

The Minister was accompanied by Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, and District Collector M. Abhishikt Kishore. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said nearly 60 lakh vaccine doses have been made available, and around 1.33 lakh healthcare personnel—including ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, Anganwadi workers, nursing staff, and Mid-Level Health Providers—have been deployed.

The immunisation drive, he explained, will be carried out in four phases. On the first day, vaccination will be conducted at nearly 30,000 pulse polio booths set up across the state. Around 1,200 mobile medical units have been deployed to reach remote areas, and transit booths have been established at all bus and railway stations to vaccinate children travelling with their families. During the final two days, healthcare teams will conduct door-to-door visits to ensure no eligible child is missed.

The Minister also highlighted the government's efforts to strengthen primary healthcare in rural areas by setting up Ayushman Arogya Centres. Since the formation of the NDA government, 4,563 such centres have been developed across the state, including 1,325 in the North Andhra region alone.

With the onset of the monsoon, the government has intensified preventive measures against seasonal diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya through fever surveys, fogging operations, sanitation drives, and continuous monitoring, the Minister added.

Speaking about the drive in Visakhapatnam district, MP Sribharat said nearly 1.89 lakh children under five have been identified for immunisation. He called upon public representatives, government officials, healthcare workers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, voluntary organisations, and the public to work together to ensure every eligible child receives the vaccine.

District Collector M. Abhishikt Kishore said the Pulse Polio campaign in the district will be conducted over three days. A total of 1,002 fixed vaccination booths, along with 62 mobile and transit booths, have been set up to cover remote areas and high-footfall locations. Approximately three lakh vaccine doses have been stocked. Special teams have been deployed at bus and railway stations to vaccinate travelling children. The Collector urged parents to cooperate so that every eligible child is covered.