The Karnataka government has decided to issue show cause notices on twelve district health officers for failing to achieve targets during pulse polio immunization programme on February 22.

The performance during the second round of the programme has been found unsatisfactory in districts Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, Davangere, Tumkur, Gadag and Chitradurga, revealed Kagodu Thimmappa, Karnataka minister for health and family welfare.

At least four districts such as Bijapur (49 per cent), Gulbarga (41 per cent) Bagalkot (49 per cent) and Raichur (44 per cent) have recorded coverage below 50 per cent, he said adding that the government would consider stringent action against district health officers.

No cases of polio were reported in Karnataka during 2001 to 2003 March triggering hopes that it would join the list of polio free states, but at least 36 fresh cases were reported from North Karnataka districts of Bellary, Bagalkot, Chitradurga, Raichur, Gulbarga and Koppal in mid- 2003, he said.

Unfortunately, the coverage of children under the renewed immunization programme has been low in the districts where fresh cases of polio has been reported, the health minister noted.

Karnataka government plans to undertake five rounds of immunization programme and has completed two rounds on January 4 and February 22. The remaining rounds would be taken up in April, October and November, he said.

According Dr. Jyothiprakash, head, Reproductive Child Health section, directorate of health and family welfare, government of Karnataka, the immunization programme is usually door-to-door affair and such a pattern was followed by the government in July, September and November 2003. But this time, the people were asked to come to the booths. The change of strategy to administer drops might have confused the people as they were expecting them to come to their houses, he informed.