(a) whether Pulse Polio Campaign has been a success;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government are aware that the several electronic and print media have expressed doubts about the success of the above campaign;
(d) if so, the facts thereof;
(e) whether the Pulse Polio drops were not administered at several places following these doubts;
(f) if so, the details thereof; and
(g) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (g): A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 553 FOR 25.4.2001
(a) & (b): Significant success has been achieved in the pulse polio immunization programme in the country. The reported coverage has increased from about 12 crores children in 1996 to about 16 crores during the latest round held on 21st January, 2001. There has also been significant decline in the number of polio cases from 1934 reported in 1998 to 265 cases only reported in 2000. During 2001, only 8 cases have been reported so far and there is very clear indication that for five weeks following 2nd February, 2001, no confirmed case has been detected in the country.
(c) & (d): Some doubts were raised by electronic and print media in the past about occurrence of deaths/impotency/HIV, etc. due to administration of oral polio vaccine. The reported cases of deaths following administration of oral polio vaccine have been investigated and found to be not related to oral polio vaccine, but to other causes. The news items about oral polio vaccine causing impotency, HIV / AIDS, etc. are completely unfounded and baseless.
(e), (f) & (g): There were a few instances where certain sections of the people expressed fears about oral polio vaccine causing impotency, etc. These fears were dispelled with the help of community leaders, influential persons and technical experts and the reluctance on the part of these families to administration of oral polio vaccine was overcome.