HYDERABAD, Jan 27: A rally was organized here on Monday by the Executive District Officer (Health) to create public awareness against polio.

The rally, which began from the Gymkhana, terminated at the Hyderabad Press Club.

The people belonging to various walks of life, including doctors, students of schools and colleges as well as the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, volunteers of social welfare organisations and non-governmental organziations, participated in the rally.

The participants of the rally appealed to the general public to avail the facility of free polio vaccination.

Speaking on the occasion, the EDO (health), Hyderabad, Dr Ashraf Bhurgari, said that Hyderabad had been declared a polio-free district in 2000-2001.

He said that over 668,000 children would be administered polio vaccine drops throughout the Hyderabad district and 203 points have been selected in this regard.

Some 1,589 teams, including 1,386 mobile teams, would take part in this campaign, he said.