A day after the two-day polio vaccination campaign ended amid obstruction by agitating health workers, the government on Monday launched door-to-door polio administration drive in 15 districts of the country to ensure that children are not deprived of regular immunisation.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has asked health workers to visit each household of the districts. The government aims to vaccinate 1.6 million children in these districts.

The MoH on Sunday took action against 18 officials, including a district health officer, who had obstructed the vaccination drive that began on Saturday. Vaccination could be carried out only in three districts.

Dr Rajendra Pant, director general of the Department of Health Services, said female community health volunteers and health professionals have been asked to visit households to administer the polio drops to children.

“We hope to end the door-to-door campaign by Friday,” said Dr Pant.

According to the government plan, polio vaccination in 15 districts—Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kailali, Bardiya, Banke, Kapilvastu, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari and Sunsari—should have been completed on Saturday and Sunday.

Following non-cooperation from health professionals and their trade unions, the Home Ministry had directed all district administration offices to arrest those involved in obstructing the campaign. No arrests were made though.

Nepal has not witnessed polio cases for the last six years and is about to announce eradication of the crippling disease, a success that has gained accolades in South Asia.