India has experienced a significant decline in the number of polio cases reported in 2011 due to a massive immunisation programme.
Government estimates reveal there has been only one polio case since January this year, compared to 741 cases in 2009 and 42 cases in 2010. In 2010, India recorded the lowest ever polio transmission levels, especially during the high transmission season, according to high quality surveillance.
India’s national polio eradication programme identified 107 high-risk blocks for polio in the country in 2010, of which 41 were in Bihar. In 2009, the state reported 117 polio cases but only nine cases in 2010. Uttar Pradesh, one of the worst affected states, reported 602 cases in 2009 – a year later this had dropped to just ten.
In states where the government say the polio eradication programme has been successfully implemented since its inception, reported cases have been low. Between 2006 and 2011, Jharkhand has reported eight cases, West Bengal seven and Maharashtra five. Jammu, Kashmir and Haryana reported only one case each during this period.
According to Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, India runs one of the world’s largest immunisation programmes, which covers around 26 million children.
The success of India’s immunisation programme saw Mr Azad honoured as a Champion in Worldwide Efforts to Eradicate Polio by the Rotary International. Speaking at the ceremony, which was held a fortnight ago (23 September 2011) in Chicago, Mr Azard said a vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis has been introduced in 111 districts in 15 states and Hepatitis B vaccine, earlier introduced in 10 states, is now being extended to the entire country.
He added that the polio immunisation programme, known as the Pulse Polio programme, is domestically funded. The annual domestic budgetary support to this programme alone is approximately 240 million USD since the beginning of the 11th plan period.
Experts say efforts were projected from all directions to combat this disease. “It has been possible because of the combination of all programmes such as intensified efforts by the state governments of better medial planning, focusing on areas with migrant population, new-borns in remote areas, and well planned awareness programs. In excess issue like Bihar, special plans were implemented to reach children who were difficult to access earlier,” said Dr Devendra Khandait, National Surveillance team leader with the National Polio Surveillance Programme.
“The decline can be attributed to the massive Pulse Polio programs. There were many pockets though and resistance in certain regions as they were refusing vaccination. Efforts have been intensified and things seem to be under control at present. There are only two pockets left at the moment — Mushnabad and East Champran - and hopefully we will see a decline in the number of patients there as well. Despite this decline, polio eradication remains elusive but we hope to achieve the same,” explained Dr R.N.Srivastava, Consultant Paediatrician at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
