Polio :: Indian Govt. calls meeting of Health ministers on polio

With 60 polio cases reported in India so far this year, the Indian Govt. has called a meeting of health ministers of 10 high-risk states next week to review the situation and chalk out future plans to eradicate the virus from the nation.

Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss will discuss the polio situation with the health ministers of 10 states, which have been reporting the cases for the past two years, on June six.

“The minister will be reviewing the situation in the country. So far, 60 polio cases have been reported. In the meeting, the future course of action will be discussed too,” said an official of the National Pulse Polio Programme.

Health Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh will also update the ministry about the steps they have taken and how the Centre could further help them.

Out of the 60 cases reported this year, 36 cases were reported in UP, 15 in Bihar, three in Uttarakhand, two in Andhra Pradesh and one each in Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Last year, 674 polio cases were reported, while in 2005, 66 cases were reported.

The rising polio cases continue to show the country in poor light as it stands only next to Nigeria in the number of cases reported across the world this year till April 17, the official said.

“A total of 111 polio cases were reported globally this year till April 17. Out of which 54 cases were reported from Nigeria, while we registered 31 cases,” he told PTI.


Leave a Comment