Polio eradication strategy approved

New Delhi, Aug 20 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval for implementation of the polio eradication strategy with an estimated expenditure at Rs.3203.98 crore for the year 2009-2010 to 2011-12.

The main objective of the project is to achieve the goal of zero transmission of polio and obtaining international polio free certification for accomplishment of this goal.

The annual strategy for polio eradication is decided on the basis of the recommendations of the India Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) consisting of national and international experts.

The IEAG has recommended a total of six National Immunization Day (NIDs), Nine Sub National Immunization Day (SNIDs) and forty Mop Up rounds for the period 2009-10 to 2011-12.

Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) was started in India in 1995-96. This is the largest public health intervention ever taken up anywhere in the world.

The estimated number of children aged between 0-5 years to be vaccinated in a National Immunization Day is around 172 million.

Sub National Immunization Day, in the high risk states/areas will cover about 69 million children between 0-5 years.

Mop Up immunization round will be undertaken in the districts and in the surrounding areas, where polio cases will be reported, covering about 7.5 million target population. (ANI)