Bihar to eradicate Polio this year: Farooque Sheikh

Patna, May 20 (UNI) Film and television actor Farooque Sheikh has expressed confidence that Bihar would eradicate polio this year.

Mr Seikh covered two districts --Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga-- and addressed four public awareness meetings to make the polio eradication drive in the state successful during his two-day visit to the state.

Concluding his programme, Mr Sheikh told newspersons yesterday that the state had no choice other than eradicating polio completely as the menace would rebounce if a single case was left unattended.

He said the media has a vital role of being a link between service providers and recepients in the polio eradication drive.

He advised mediapersons to file polio related stories only after confirming it from pertinent authorities as it could adversely affect the whole drive if there was lack of information or isinformation was rovided to readers.

Indian Expert Advisory Group (IEAG), guiding the polio eardiction programme, had noted that Bihar would have the last polio case in 2006 if it continued to have rounds of high quality of the programme implementation.

The state had reported 10 polio cases in districts of East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Patna, Purnea and Sheohar.

To a query, Mr Sheikh refused to comment on Pakistan president Pervez Musharrafs order of banning film actor Firoz Khans entry into Pakistan for his alleged controverisal statements during his recent visit to the neighouring country.

UNI DH PC PK VC1110