Global Polio Eradication Initiative has brought down the number of polio paralysis and has has helped to eliminate polio

The debilitating disease has disabled nearly 20 million people till date. But today, the world is more prepared to make sure that others do not suffer the same plight. The hard work, commitment and dedication of the governments, international health agencies and volunteers, have made the world an almost polio-free place.

The inception of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988 has brought down drastically the global toll of polio paralysis. Overall, the number of cases has decreased by over 99% in 125 countries. From an estimated number of more than 350,000 cases in 1988 the number of polio cases was drastically reduced to 1951 reported cases in 2005. In 2007, the number of infected countries is down from 16 to 11, compared to the previous year.

The availability of both the live attenuated Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) has been effective in eliminating Polio in most countries across the world. But in India, despite several programmes like the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) for children (1980), Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) for children under five years of age (1995), we are yet to completely eradicate the dreaded disease.

In 2001, 268 cases were reported nationwide, contributed primarily by the 2 northern states, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. However, in 2002, a total of 1600 cases was estimated nationwide, of which 1363 (85%) were in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In 2007, a total of 357 polio cases have been reported.

India has to redouble its efforts with more focus on high-risk groups and also on absentee and defaulter immunisation. The key to successful eradication of poliomyelitis lies in community participation which has to be ensured for better compliance.