Members of Rotary International, a global humanitarian organization and a spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has supported Sub National Immunization Day (SNID) on June 17 to eradicate polio across various states like UP, Bihar, West Bengal, New Delhi and part of Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana. A delegation of health officials from Afghanistan has also participated in the SNID in UP.
The polio disease that held the world to ransom in the 1950's and 1960's has been eliminated with those two tiny drops of oral polio vaccine. India just completed 16 months without a case of polio. Deepak Kapur, chairman, Rotary International’s India National PolioPlus Committee (INPPC), said, “Reaching the ultimate goal of a polio-free world presents myriad challenges. India can’t afford to be complacent as virus outbreaks in neighbouring countries could lead to an importation. As long as there is even a single polio-afflicted child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk.”
Kapur informed that after achieving the milestone of non-polio endemic nation in February this year, India needs to maintain the status for another two years to be certified polio-free by the WHO. Import of polio from neighbouring countries and reemergence of the disease are major threats to the campaign and a key priority area for the stakeholders going ahead.
While most booths in Delhi were organized by the government, Rotary organized some booths managed by Rotarians, located strategically at transit points and supported some at bus stands, railway stations, etc. A delegation from the Global Poverty Project and supported by the global polio partners – Rotary International, WHO and UNICEF for advocacy and funding will be done in Ghaziabad to participate in the SNID. The team of high-net worth individuals will then travel to Patna to participate in Bihar door-to-door polio immunization activity.
A delegation from Afghanistan, including Nazar Muhammad (Provincial EPI Manager of Kandahar), Haji Inayattullah (Provincial Public Health Director of Helmand), Abdul Jabar (Provincial Public Health Director of Farah), etc. comprising of officials from the health Ministry, is in the country to exchange ideas and explore best practices in fighting polio in India and possibly emulate them in their country. They had been to UP and participated in the State SNID on June 17. India recently received a similar delegation from Pakistan and the Polio campaign partners in the country are eager to facilitate this knowledge sharing and lessons learnt in the India fight.
During the SNID, thousands of children below five years of age were immunized against poliovirus at booths installed at different corners. The Rotary India PolioPlus distributed IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials such as thousands of banners, whistles, caps and aprons during the SNID activity. The Rotary India PolioPlus committee has been actively involved in social mobilization, and religious advocacy to make immunization acceptable to all sections of society. Rotary also began organizing Polio Corrective Surgery and Rehabilitation Camps for the polio-affected children from 2002. The initiative has helped hundreds of polio-stricken children lead a life of dignity and self-dependence.