WHO takes India's name off polio endemic countries list
India, which has been polio-free for over a year now, was taken off the list of polio endemic countries by the World Health Organisation. This announcement was made by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at the polio summit 2012 in New Delhi on 25th February in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Azad said he has received a letter this morning stating that the "WHO has taken India's name off the list of polio endemic countries in view of the remarkable progress that we have made during the past one year."
There were only four countries in the WHO endemic list, including Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.
After being removed from the list, India will have to remain polio free for the next two years to achieve the polio-free status with concerted efforts and an emergency preparedness and response plan, WHO representative in India Natela Menabde said.
The Prime Minister, while lauding the achievement complimented the government officials and Rotary for this massive success. Singh said, "This gives us hope that we can finally eradicate polio not only from India but from the face of the earth."
Though many countries have achieved this goal, every country is still under the threat of polio as long as the virus existed, she warned.
Rotarians must keep up extra vigil and continue with vaccination efforts for next two years to ensure that polio virus does not enter the country again.
India, which has been polio-free for over a year now, was taken off the list of polio endemic countries by the World Health Organisation. This announcement was made by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at the polio summit 2012 in New Delhi on 25th February in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Azad said he has received a letter this morning stating that the "WHO has taken India's name off the list of polio endemic countries in view of the remarkable progress that we have made during the past one year."
There were only four countries in the WHO endemic list, including Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.
After being removed from the list, India will have to remain polio free for the next two years to achieve the polio-free status with concerted efforts and an emergency preparedness and response plan, WHO representative in India Natela Menabde said.
The Prime Minister, while lauding the achievement complimented the government officials and Rotary for this massive success. Singh said, "This gives us hope that we can finally eradicate polio not only from India but from the face of the earth."
Though many countries have achieved this goal, every country is still under the threat of polio as long as the virus existed, she warned.
Rotarians must keep up extra vigil and continue with vaccination efforts for next two years to ensure that polio virus does not enter the country again.
