States of U.P, Bihar, West Bengal, New Delhi being covered. in parts of Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana emphasis on migratory population. Delegation from Afghanistan will participate in the SNID

June 18, 2012 /India PRwire/ -- Members of Rotary International - a principal partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative - lend its support to the polio eradication effort during another round of the Sub National Immunization Day (SNID) held on 17 June across states of U.P, Bihar, West Bengal, New Delhi and part of Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana. A delegation of health officials from Afghanistan will also participate in the SNID in U.P.

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 while virus outbreaks in neighboring 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."

While most booths in Delhi were organized by the Government, Rotary organized some booths manned by Rotarians, located strategically at transit points and supported some at bus stands, Railway stations and suchlike. A delegation from the Global Poverty Project and supported by the Global Polio partners - Rotary International, WHO & UNICEF for advocacy and funding - will be 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.

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 World Health Organization. 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.

A delegation from Afghanistan 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. The ( member delegation from Afghanistan includes Nazar Muhammad (Provincial EPI Manager of Kandahar), Haji Inayattullah (Provincial Public Health Director of Helmand), Abdul Jabar (Provincial Public Health Director of Farah) amongst others. They will travel to U.P and participate in the State SNID on Sunday. 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 Sub National Immunisation Day, thousands of children below 5 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.

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

About Rotary International

Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary International is a spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and the largest private sector donor till date. It has contributed nearly US $ 1 billion (Rs 5,000 crores) worldwide to end Polio. In addition to their own record-breaking financial contribution for polio eradication and countless volunteer work-hours, Rotarians have helped leverage a further US$ 8 billion from governments the world over.

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