After endemic nations Nigeria and Pakistan were quick to emulate best practices from India, young Americans pick up lessons from the India model on the role of global civil society in advancing common goals. With no new polio cases being reported for more than a year, India’s experience of containing the dreaded virus has been regarded as the biggest public health achievement worldwide.
This story about how India won the war against polio was retold at the UN Secretariat office in New York for the graduating learning community in ‘Global Affairs program’ of New York University.
Speaking at the Global Affairs programme, Chairman of Rotary International showcased India’s experience and progress to wipe out polio from the country despite various challenges. Deepak Kapur,Chair of the India National PolioPlus Committee and Member of the Rotary Club of Delhi South in his presentation highlighted the successful role played by each partner – WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, Government of India and State Governments – in reaching the unreached child for polio immunisation.
Kapur said, “Over Rs nine billion has been invested in Global Polio Eradication (GPEI) since its launch in 1988. The success can be largely attributed to strategies involving mass mobilisation, creating demands and sustaining the supply chain, frequent and immediate immunisation activities along with door-to-door delivery, state-of-the art disease surveillance and monitoring system, fundraising, and religious advocacy to make polio immunisation widely acceptable.”
EH News Bureau
