Mass public campaign a success but experts warn of need for continued vigilance
Not even superstition can render this Friday the 13th unlucky for India. Today, the nation will reach a major milestone in the history of polio eradication – a year without any case of wild polio being recorded. For a nation that notoriously had, only two years ago, the largest number of polio cases in the world (741), this is clearly an unprecedented achievement.
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Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system. Even those who do not show any symptoms can excrete the virus, thereby spreading the infection. Acute Flaccid Paralysis is a disabling condition where there is absence of muscle tone in one or both limbs, and tendon reflexes. While no ‘cure' exists for polio, the oral polio vaccine prevents the transmission of infection effectively.
As India reaches this ‘no wild case' mark, it will no longer be considered ‘endemic' to polio, a status it has harboured thus long, with three other nations — Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. If all tests for the wild polio virus in India — including laboratory analysis of acute flaccid paralysis cases with onset up to mid-January and environmental sewage sampling — return negative, India will officially be deemed to have stopped the transmission of the indigenous wild polio virus.
Following this, the World Health Organisation will remove India from the list of endemic nations, probably by mid-February. “India's success is arguably its greatest public health achievement and has provided a global opportunity to push for the end of polio,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.
Responding to the achievement, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “This giant leap towards polio containment in a short span of two years is an endorsement of India's tireless and persistent efforts.” India had set an example with the highest level of political commitment to the programme — with resource allocation, continuous efforts to identify and reach out to vulnerable children with tailored strategies for maximum reach, optimum use of available vaccines under the guidance of top national and international experts, an extra-ordinary communication strategy and strong partnerships, he added.
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the next step would be to look at a polio-free South East Asian Region in 2014: Over the next 24 months, the Regional Certification Commission of the WHO South East Asian Region (of which India is a part) will start examining the surveillance and programme performance for polio eradication across the region to determine whether it can be certified as having eradicated the indigenous wild poliovirus.
Keywords: Polio eradication, wild polio cases, oral polio vaccine, endemic polio nations, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, WHO
Congratulations..Mr.Prime Minister..
My friend is affected with this dreadful disease. He is 21 years old. I always wonder about his conditions like how he manages his chores; how he consoles himself when he looks at someone who is moving freely , playing all games or even dancing. I always try to keep him happy but obviously truth is truth. I can watch his sorrow in his eyes when he looks at others. So really when I first read this news, tears fell on my cheeks. I was very happy to think that now none will suffer with this type of inferiority complex.
This is the best news with grand opening of 2012, it is hard work of all health care professional, cheers to all them. I wish the same to continue to eradicate various diseases in India. Hope for strong nation in the future
Really a great achivement of our country with so many contractictory views of the vaccine and media reports.Salute to all who made this possible.We are proud to be Indian.
What we must all take note is that this does not mean that there were no polio cases being reported last year. The zero occurrence refers to only 'wild polio' cases. There are cases in which children contracted the disease from the badly stored and administered oral vaccine itself. News reports are pretty blind about this aspect.
Mighty India is gradually realizing her true potential. Dedication, commitment, perseverance and zeal of our gallant polio combat squads has brought us thus far. We need to be vigilant on all fronts and keep up the good work. Hats off to our medical and para-medical teams, social workers, media and all our allies in our war against polio.
We also feel proud that we Rotarians have worked hard to make Polio - free India . We supported to wipe out this dreaded Disease.
Its a great achievement for India for public health after a long time ,lot more needs to be
achieved.
Truely an achievement to celebrate. Just hope that our news media spread this message to whole nation.It signifies the potential we indians have to do anything. I am confident if we focus on problems like poverty,illetracy, child labour etc , we can achieve similar feats there too.
Happy to see india free from Polio.this is a milestone in healthcare in india.
This is great achievement for country with such high population density. We should study and analyze the success of the campaign and try to replicate it in other fileds especially the one where we trying to tackle malnutrition and building sound infrastructure. Countless thanks to people involved in executing their duties with sincerity of purpose. Your kind and just act may fire other governement institution to follow the same path.
Today morning when i saw this news in THE HINDU, frankly saying just tears rolled out of my eyes... Hats off to indian government and the world health organisation for taking such a great effort by reaching each single child born in india and the whole world... coz i know the pain of polio when my big brother is affected with such a dreadful disease. My whole family is sincerely thankful to india government, WHO, and the hindu for giving me an opportunity to comment on such an happiest news....
I feel we should still be cautious about the deadly virus. As this is the only 1 st year. And our neighbours have the not eradicated the same. Its a great achievement though we need to be cautious.
Congratulations to all comrades who worked steadfast to create this historical milestone.! Especially the field workers, junior health assistants and the community stakeholders whose efforts go unnoticed . Wishing all the best for the future, and strongly hope we are able to maintain this for the coming futures !!
Its all about the collective and dedicated efforts made at grass root level that enables us to eradicate polio form our Country.Salute to all workers engaged in this programme and to the Mothers who take the vaccination programme as seriously as it demands.
Eureka! We have done it. Congratulations to all workers and people engaged in the process. But care must be taken, Statistics and Reality are two different things.
My heartiest thanks to all the people involving to eradicate the
deadliest virus...let's carry on this success story & share it to the
neighboring countries...
The work of the Government is really commendable in the whole programmes. It shows that focused and vigorous efforts by all functionaries can bring the desired outcomes. We need to replicate this success in other sectors (education and health) also.
A hearful thanks to all workers who reached all corners of our country in eradicating the deadly virus.
Polio Mukt Bharat, finally :)
Congratulations to the nation,We have some positive news too to cheer up and celebrate,even it can occupies the headlines of mainstream media.when I saw the polio vaccination camps every where,in schools, bus stands,in streets,most of the public places,it amused me too.we need to congratulate those who took part in the great mission school Teachers,Anganwadi workers,Medical workers,volunteers,social workers,NGOs who dedicatedly worked and achieved,they really deserve the credit.Last but not leas thanks for the support of health ministry.
Very heartening to know that our country is making progressive strides in wiping out deadly diseases which were once considered to be a growing threat.Wish many other societal evils are also wiped out in the near future.
Congratulations to all agencies concerned in achieving this praiseworthy feat; hopefully India would now introduce IPV (the injected vaccine, as used in the West) alongside OPV (the oral vaccine) to continue to protect her citizens from the devastating disabilities that the highly infectious polio virus afflicts. Here is another achievement India can be truly proud of.
Congratulations. The nation salutes all the people involved in eradicating one of the deadliest of the viruses. Now let us help the countries achive this milestone.
thanks to all the workers in the field, we have this happiness to share today!!! India should provide help to other neighboring countries as it received help from others.
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