Media can play vital role in polio eradication programmes

Patna, Jun 29 (UNI) Media has a vital role to play in creating awareness about the danger of ''wild polio virus'' and campaigning for eradication of polio from the country.

This view was unanimously expressed here last night by a panel of experts in a workshop, organised by UNICEF as a part of its nationwide polio eradication programme, in collaboration with Patna District Administration.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Zainul Abedeen, an expert from WHO, said last year 61 of the total 672 people suffering from polio across the nation were from Bihar. But this year the number had been reduced to only 17 in the state out of the total 82 new cases detected in the country till June 26.

Elaborating the need for collaborative efforts, Patna District Magistrate B Rajendra appreciated the role of media in educating the masses.

He said since people took newspaper reports very seriously, any message sent through them could play a vital role in eradicating the menace besides creating the necessary awareness about the dangerous consequences of the ''wild polio virus'' in the state as well as in other parts of the country.

All speakers were unanimous in their view that much more was to be done at every level for the total eradication of polio from the country.

''We have miles to go before reaching the desired goal,''they said and emphasised that there was a greater need to strengthen the drive for polio eradication programmes on the ground as well as through advocacy and social mobilisation.

UNI