October 24th, is celebrated worldwide as Polio Day. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about polio (pneumo-influenza-poliovirus), a serious and paralyzing childhood disease, and to honor global efforts to combat it.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are leading a sustained effort to combat polio. Polio prevention focuses on vaccination campaigns, sanitation, and health education. Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Programme (GPEI) in 1988, the global incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99%, WHO mentioned in a tweet on X.
World Polio Day: Where India Stands
India achieved a monumental public health victory by being certified Polio-Free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 27, 2014.
The country’s last wild poliovirus case was reported on January 13, 2011, in West Bengal. This success came after decades of mass immunization campaigns, rigorous surveillance, and strong political commitment under the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme.
India remains vigilant, conducting regular National and Sub-National Immunization Days to maintain high population immunity and prevent any re-importation of the wild poliovirus, which is still endemic in neighboring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News