Azad Confirms Overcoming Polio Burden was Huge Challenge for India

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that overcoming the burden of polio cases was a huge challenge to India.

Speaking at the launch of National Immunization Day (NID) Polio Round 2013 by President Pranab Mukherjee here, Azad said India has completed two years without any case of wild polio virus.

Poliomyelitis - About
Polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It results in paralysis and generally affects people of all age groups, children being more susceptible

"Overcoming the burden of polio cases was a huge challenge to India. The polio eradication effort will continue to be one of the thrust areas of the government since the risk of polio persists as long as there is wild polio virus in the world," said Azad.

He said to deal with case of polio importation, an emergency preparedness and response plan has been put in place.

"Under this plan, a case of polio virus anywhere in the country will be treated as a public health emergency and Rapid Response Teams will be formed in all the states and union territories to respond effectively to any case of polio importation," he said.

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Azad said the focus of the health ministry continues to be on the most vulnerable migrant and mobile populations, youngest children and under-served populations, which remain at the highest risk of contracting the disease.

"The programme continues to evolve and innovate to reach each and every child, even in the remotest corner of the country, to ensure that all children are protected against polio," he said.

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The Chhattisgarh government will launch a three-day polio immunization drive from May 20 with a special focus on the children of laborers to help the state get rid of polio.

World Health Organisation (WHO) had removed India from the list of polio endemic countries in February 2012. No new polio case should be reported from India by 2014, to be officially declared polio free.

The nationwide immunization round would start on Jan 20 and more than 17 crore children of less than 5 years of age will be given polio drops.

Source-IANS