Youth Affairs, Sports and Registration Minister O.J. Janeesh stressed the importance of timely immunisation in protecting children and strengthening public health. He was inaugurating the district-level observance of the National Pulse Polio programme at the K. Karunakaran Memorial Block Family Health Centre in Mala in Kerala’s Thrissur district on Sunday (June 28, 2026).

The Minister administered the first dose of oral polio vaccine to the daughter of District Collector Shikha Surendran, who attended the function as the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Janeesh said ensuring that children receive vaccines on schedule would help build a strong social shield against diseases. He also emphasised the need for sustained public awareness and timely preventive measures to safeguard community health.

The Minister said the government would expedite steps to strengthen services at the Mala Government Hospital by appointing additional staff.

Mala Block Panchayat president Subhashini Rajeev presided over the function. District Medical Officer (Health) T.P. Sridevi delivered the keynote address. As many as 1,877 Pulse Polio booths have been set up across Thrissur district to administer oral polio vaccine to 1,73,897 children below the age of five.