(a) whether the Government has reviewed the Pulse Polio Programme being implemented in the country;
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
(c) whether the targets fixed in this regard are likely to be achieved by the end
of this year;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)
(a) & (b): The pulse polio programme is being reviewed on a regular basis at different level. The Indian Expert
Advisory Group (IEAG) on Polio which comprises of national and international public health experts also reviews the
progress twice a year. The last IEAG review was on 13-14 July 2011. During this meeting, the IEAG noted that country
had made tremendous progress towards polio eradication and mention that the opportunity to eradicate polio from India
has never been better. The IEAG recommended that an Emergency preparedness and response plan should be prepared to
protect polio free areas from any importation of virus from within or outside the country and to be prepared to respond
to any wild polio virus rapidly and effectively. The IEAG has also recommended the strategy of two intensive nationwide
polio campaigns and additional polio campaigns in the high risk states (Sub National Immunization Days), should be
continued till 12th June 2012.
(c) & (d): There is 98% decline in polio cases over last year. Only one polio case reported in 2011 as compare to 42
in 2010. The last case of polio in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was noted in April 2010 and September 2010 respectively.
(e): Government of India is making determined and concerted efforts to stop the circulation of the poliovirus and
achieve polio eradication. The details of intensified efforts are (i) introduction of bivalent polio vaccine in January
2010 and used extensively thereafter, (ii) two nationwide polio campaigns (National Immunization Days) followed by seven large scale polio campaigns in the high risk states in 2011 (Sub National Immunization Days), (iii) multipronged strategy
to improve sanitation, hygiene, availability of clean water and control of diarrhoea in 107 high risk blocks in Uttar
Pradesh and Bihar, (iv) special micro plans to cover mobile and migrant populations and intensification of routine immunization,(v) Emergency preparedness and response plan to manage any wild polio virus case, (vi) Sustaining
surveillance.