The National Pulse Polio Campaign kicked off across Madhya Pradesh’s capital, Bhopal on Sunday with a large-scale vaccination drive aimed at protecting children under the age of five from the crippling disease. As part of the campaign, the Health Department has set a target of administering oral polio vaccine to approximately 3.32 lakh children across the district through an extensive network of vaccination centres.
To ensure smooth implementation, the department has established 2,710 polio booths, where children are being given the vaccine free of cost.
MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav holding a vaccinated kid in his arms
CM Dr Yadav leads campaign in Betul
State Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav launched the campaign in Betul on Sunday by administering polio drops to young children. The initiative is part of the nationwide effort to ensure that every eligible child receives the vaccine and remains protected against poliomyelitis.
According to the Department of Public Health and Medical Education, special vaccination booths have been set up at Anganwadi centres, government and private hospitals, shopping malls, major marketplaces, railway stations, bus terminals and airports. The primary objective of the campaign is to ensure that no child in the district is left without the life-saving polio vaccine.
Mobile teams reach high-risk areas
According to sources, the Health Department has also deployed dedicated mobile teams to cover high-risk locations, including brick kilns, construction sites, crusher zones and settlements of migrant and nomadic communities.
Representative image
These teams are conducting door-to-door visits, administering polio drops to eligible children and ensuring that families living in remote or temporary settlements are not missed. Health workers and volunteers are continuously monitoring the campaign to maximise coverage and reach every eligible beneficiary.
Children being vaccinated even on moving trains
A highlight of the campaign is that the railway authorities have established 22 special polio booths at major stations of the state, including Bhopal, Itarsi, Bina, Guna and Ganj Basoda.
In addition, mobile vaccination teams are travelling onboard trains such as the Jhelum Express, Punjab Mail, Karnataka Express, Malwa Express and several other services. These teams are administering polio drops to children aged 0 to 5 years while they are travelling, ensuring that even families on the move are covered under the immunisation programme.
Parents urged to get every child vaccinated
Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Bhopal, Dr Manish Sharma appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that their children receive the oral polio vaccine without fail.
Health experts emphasised that although India has remained polio-free since 2014, sustained vaccination efforts are essential to preserve this milestone. They noted that timely immunisation of every eligible child is the strongest safeguard against the re-emergence of polio and remains a vital step in protecting future generations from the potentially debilitating disease.