The Karnataka government has commenced a massive house-to-house polio immunization campaign with an aim to vaccinate nearly 72 lakh children. The state has received Rs 5.31 crore from the Union government to conduct two rounds of immunization.

For the first time, the children who were vaccinated were marked with indelible ink on the lines of voting in elections. This was introduced to identify vaccinated and non-vaccinated children in the state.

As many as 30,7000 booths were set-up all over the state as part of the first round of National Pulse Polio Programme in 2004 to vaccinate an estimated 72 lakh children including those above five years. In the first round Rs.2.9 crore is being spent and the rest will be for the second round, which is to be held on February 27, 2004.

To monitor the immunization programme, the government has set-up a special Task Force in all the districts of north Karnataka, where polio cases were reported. The Task Force is expected to ensure prevention of further spread of the disease.

The state government has arranged a massive publicity campaign to spread awareness about the poliovirus and the need for vaccination.

Handouts, hoardings, public announcements and other means are used in the campaign in every nook and corner of the state, said Jyothiprakash, deputy director, communicable diseases, Karnataka department of health and family welfare.

To make the programme successful, the state government has roped in its employees from various other departments besides volunteers from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the Rotary Club, Rotrack and others. Over 97,000 personnel, including 6,000 supervisors are involved in administering vaccinations in the state.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has set-up 2,300 booths in Bangalore. For the house-to- house immunization programme, three mobile dispensaries will cover the construction sites, high-risk areas and slums in Bangalore, informed BMP officials.