Heat, disinterest mar polio drive

Scorching heat and lack of interest among health workers, as well as senior officials, led to a poor response at polio booths on the first day of pulse polio drive on Sunday.

Scorching heat and lack of interest among health workers, as well as senior officials, led to a poor response at polio booths on the first day of pulse polio drive on Sunday.

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Most of the booths in Daryabad, Muthiganj, Nurullah Road and Kydganj area wore a deserted look. Barely 50 to 55 children were immunised in these booths till 1pm. With few children coming to the booths, the vaccinators administered the polio drops to children passing by the booth. The posters and banners were also missing in the old city area. Few posters were visible only at the polio booths.

Attendant of booth number 22 in Daryabad, Nadian Nadim, said that in comparison to last drive they have received an average response this time.
"We managed to immunise only 50 children till 1pm," she added.

Also only 33 children turned up at booth number 13 at Soni Chemist near Anand Bhawan till mid afternoon. About 56 children attended polio booth at D Type Health Post in Kydganj in the first four hours.

The booth attendants complained of lack of interest among local residents towards the drive.

"Moreover people know that their kids will be immunised in their home so they don't find any motivation to visit the booth," said a booth attendant.