Andhra Pradesh has become a polio free state for the last three years with no cases being detected since the year 2000. However, the government does not want to be complacent and has decided to watch for another two years before making an official announcement of the success of its universal immunization programme being undertaken since 1995. The health department is wary about the possible incidence of polio due to the floating population as hundreds of cases are reported in the country.
In 1995, about 68.6 lakh children were administered polio drops and 95.9 lakh the following year. The pulse polio immunization programme became so popular that more than 1.20 crore children were being administered the drops every year since then.
There were 15 cases of polio in the state in the year1997, 96 in1998 and 21 in 1999.
Amid the happy and encouraging reports, the health ministry has made necessary arrangements for the next round of pulse polio immunization programme (PPIP) in the state on January 5 and February 9. According to Health Minister Dr Kodela Sivaprasad Rao, an estimated 1.6 lakh children below the age of 5 years, including the newborns and those who are ill, will be administered the two oral drops during this round. He has appealed to the parents to utilize the opportunity and make the programme a success.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Rao said the achievement under the National Programme for Control of Blindness in the state for this year had been phenomenal. Against a target of 3.4 lakh cataract operations fixed for the year and 2.3 lakh for the period up to November, the achievement was 2.58 lakh operations. The minister said that as part of the 'Right to Sight' programme launched in the state under a global scheme named 'Vision 2020 -the Right to Sight' several milestones were achieved, including mapping of eyecare resources, mini-GIS-like application named Andhra Pradesh Eyecare Resources Information System, School Children Eyecare Programme etc. He said against a target fixed for collection of 3000 eyeballs for the year, 1,506 eyeballs had been collected up to September.