Mangaluru : The first phase of the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme  total of 1,49,332 kids including 665 children from various settlement colonies, 1,08,525 from rural areas and 40,807 from urban areas were administered pulse polio drops in Dakshina Kannada district during the first phase of Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme.

As many as 1.68 lakh children were identified and the District has covered 88.64 per cent of the target.

On Sunday, a total of 921 vaccination centres, 10 mobile squads and 26 transit vaccination centres and 3,808 staff members administered the drops apart from 189 supervisors.

The department had identified more than 1.68 lakh children for the campaign and Sunday’s vaccination has covered 88.64 per cent of the target, a release from the department said.

The figures also included 665 children from various settlement colonies. As many as 921 booths to administer polio drops have been set up across the district even as 26 transit teams and 10 mobile units would move from place to place to administer the drops.

The second phase of the drive would be undertaken on February 22.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Mahabala Marla launched the programme in the district by administering polio drops to an infant.

Administering the drop at the Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru, Mr. Marla hoped that the drive would cover all the children in the district. Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim and district health officials too administered polio drops on the occasion.