Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The Pulse Polio was started with the global initiative of eradication of polio in 1988 following World Health Assembly resolution in 1988, Pulse Polio Immunization programme was launched in India in 1995.
January 19 is observed every year as Pulse Polio Day.
How is it caused?
The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
Symptoms of polio
Initial symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In a small proportion of cases, the disease causes paralysis, which is often permanent. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented by immunization.
Slogans
Spread awareness about polio vaccination and eradication with these slogans.
- “Do Boond Zindagi ki”
- “Spare the children, give the vaccine”
- “Prevent Birth Defect.”
- “Stop Polio, Vaccinate.”
- “Get A Drop, Stop The Strop.
When did India become polio-free country?
Vellore, (Tamil Nadu) became the first Indian town to become 100% polio-free through the pulse strategy, and the rest of India adopted the strategy in 1995. On March 27, 2014, India was declared as polio-free along with countries of South-East Asian Region of WHO.
Just two drops can help to save your child’s health so take him/her for polio drops vaccination camp near your place.
(With Inputs from: nhp.gov.in, delhi.gov.in)
