VADODARA, Jan 17: The final phase of the fourth annual pulse polio drive on Sunday met with tremendous success, with the health officials and social fora representatives claiming that they covered more than 100 per cent children upto the age of five years.Though the drive began on a dull note in the rural and urban parts specially during early hours, it picked up around 11 am and later towards evening. The drop in the temperature and kite fever is said to be the reason for the low turnout during early hours.``Despite cold climate and Uttarayan, mothers and elders brought children to the booths. The credit, however, goes to public awareness,'' said District Development Officer Anju Sharma.She said more than 109 per cent children had been covered under the drive: more than 2.3 lakh children below five years of age were administered the pulse polio drops in the entire district ,which had 2,000 booths and a workforce of 5,000 Panchayat personnel. She said more than 200 mobile vehicles with para-medical staff were also pressed into service who visited remote areas and administered drops from house to house.In Vadodara city, more than 1.49 lakh children were given the anti-polio drops at 540-odd booths throughout the day. Dr D S Asari, deputy health officer of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) said that though the final data was still being compiled from booths, it was clear by evening that the turnout was more than 100 per cent.Asari praised the role of more than 25 social organisations, who he said extended their logistic and manpower assistance to the government machinery on December 6 and January 17 unlike in the past. He said this time the VMC used more than 25 vehicles and also set up booths at the railway station and bus stand, which also saw good response.
