2011 Critical Year For Polio Eradication In Uttar Pradesh, Say Experts

Feb. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- 2011 CRITICAL YEAR FOR POLIO ERADICATION IN UTTAR PRADESH, SAY EXPERTS
Rickshaw rally held ahead of nation-wide polio immunization round on 27 February

Lucknow, 27 February 2011: A colorful rickshaw rally rolled out through Lucknow’s roads to spread the message for polio eradication. The rally was organized ahead of the week-long nationwide polio immunization campaign that begins on 27 February.
More than 100 rickshaws with posters, banners, balloons and some of them with miking and audio messages went through the city urging parents to immunize their children against polio during the campaign. NGO Bhartiya Micro credit helped mobilize the Rickshaw association.
Mr Anil Sagar, DM Lucknow, flagged off the rally outside the K D Singh Babu Stadium.
Dr Pankaj Sinha  Acting DG Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of UP. Said that  “Uttar Pradesh has made unprecedented progress against polio. Polio eradication initiatives this year are critical to give the final blow to polio in the State,” Dr Sinha said. He made an appeal to defeat polio by ensuring that all children up to the age of five years receive the oral polio vaccine in the immunization campaigns.
Uttar Pradesh is one of the two polio-endemic States in the country. The State has shown remarkable progress in polio eradication in 2010. There were 10 polio cases in UP in 2010 as compared with 602 in 2009. The State has not reported any case of the more dangerous poliovirus type 1 since November 2009.
The progress in Uttar Pradesh has brought India closer to polio eradication. India reported lowest ever 42 polio cases in 2010 as compared with 741 in 2009.

“This progress provides an unprecedented opportunity to finish polio in the State and the country,” said Dr Robin Nandy, Senior Health Advisor, UNICEF New York.

To stop polio at the earliest, the programme is now focusing on ensuring the populations at highest risk – migrant and mobile population and the new borns – are  rapidly protected against polio. In addition, the programme is addressing polio associated risk factors in the 66 most polio endemic blocks of Uttar Pradesh by promoting routine immunization, diarrhea management, sanitation and hygiene and exclusive breastfeeding.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with partners UNICEF, WHO-National Polio Surveillance Programme, and Rotary International, are working concertedly to stop polio at the earliest.



For more information please contact:

Pramil Dwivedi, Consulting Head, India Media Relations, Lucknow: 9415020286pramildwivedi@gmail.com

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India Media Relations involved in full PR services based in Lucknow , UP with its network in 11 state capitals of India, pramildwivedi@gmail.com, +91 9415020286 / 9125491146