India determined to eradicate polio: minister
December 9th, 2011 - 6:00 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) With only one case of polio being reported in India this year, the government is hoping to eradicate the paralytic disease completely, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Sudip Bandyopadhyay told the Lok Sabha Friday.
“There is 98 percent decline in polio cases over last year. Only one polio case reported in 2011 as compared to 42 in 2010,” he said.
“Government is making determined and concerted efforts to stop the circulation of the polio virus and achieve polio eradication,” he added.
The last polio cases in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were noted in April and September this year respectively, he added.
The minister said the Indian Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) on Polio, comprising national and international health experts, had noted India’s “tremendous progress towards polio eradication”.
“The IEAG recommended that an emergency preparedness and response plan should be prepared to protect polio free areas from any importation of virus from within or outside the country and to be prepared to respond to any wild polio virus rapidly and effectively,” he added.
- India faces polio threat from Pakistan: Minister - Dec 20, 2011
- India reports one polio case this year - Aug 09, 2011
- A year of no polio: India triumphs, but risks remains - Jan 11, 2012
- Indian firm joins Nigeria's polio battle (With Images) - Feb 23, 2012
- A year of no polio: India triumphs, but risks remains (Lead) - Jan 11, 2012
- India reports 163 polio cases this year - Aug 07, 2009
- WHO finds polio virus in Delhi sewage - Feb 15, 2011
- Polio under control but India aims at eradication: Azad - Oct 23, 2011
- India to support global polio eradication: Azad - Feb 26, 2012
- Faltering on polio, Pakistan looks at India lesson - Mar 02, 2012
- WHO commends India's polio free year - Jan 13, 2012
- Polio cases drop significantly, new campaign launched - Jan 22, 2011
- 2011 crucial for India to eradicate polio: WHO - Oct 24, 2011
- India committed to eradicate polio: Azad - Sep 24, 2011
- Bihar reported no polio case in last one year - Sep 12, 2011
Tags: circulation, concerted efforts, decline, emergency preparedness and response, expert advisory group, family welfare, free areas, health experts, ieag, importation, international health, Lok Sabha, minister of state, New Delhi, paralytic disease, polio, polio cases, polio eradication, polio virus, response plan