India has completed a decade-long fight against poliomyelitis (polio), a major public health milestone for the country and helping in the fight against other diseases. The last case of polio was reported in January 2011.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared India polio-free in 2014. The milestone was emphasised by the chairman of Rotary International’s India PolioPlus Committee Deepak Kapur. This is reportec by
IANS, a partner of TV BRICS.

He noted that successful vaccination campaigns and an effective surveillance system played a key role in eradicating the disease. Experts stressed that national and sub-national immunisation days also played an important role, helping to significantly improve vaccination coverage.

“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of India’s polio-free certification, this remarkable journey serves as a beacon of hope in the ongoing global fight to eradicate polio,” he said.

Success in polio control will also be useful for vaccination against COVID-19 and other diseases. However, continued vaccination efforts are needed to ensure strong immunity and protect children from polio. This experience can also serve as a model in the global fight to eradicate polio.

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