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New Delhi: To mark India's landmark achievement of being certified polio-free, UNICEF today celebrated with megastar Amitabh Bachchan who as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Polio, has played a critical role in mobilizing mass support for India’s polio immunization campaign.

Over 1000 men and women from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar’s ‘Social Mobilization Network’ (SmNet) came together for the event presided by the Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, UNICEF India Representative , Mr Louis Georges Arsenault and superstar Amitabh Bacchan. The evening paid tribute to the Vaccinators and Mobilizers who worked tirelessly in the diverse and remote parts of the country, ensuring that every child under age 5 was immunized.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan, the pioneer of the polio eradication programme in India said,” India’s feat of being polio-free for three years and receiving WHO certification is indeed a victory for the millions of health and community workers who broke many a barrier to reach out to the unreached children. They are the most powerful voice of the polio eradication movement. They allayed fears and addressed misconceptions. They built partnerships with the local community and religious leadership. It is because of their efforts--of going door to door, administering polio vaccine to children and educating people about the importance of the polio vaccine, that India could achieve this success”

In the context of post-polio India, the Minister stressed the need for building up on the pulse polio experience.

“Let us, in 2014, revive the 1995 spirit. There are many other diseases demanding pulse polio-like missions involving the coming together of the medical community and general society. So let’s all work together to ensure ‘Health for All’ for a better and stronger future,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

“India’s success is a cause for celebration – but not complacency. India is polio free but the risk of polio persists. Until the disease is eradicated globally, we need to continue to protect children against the virus and remain in a state of preparedness to respond to any case of poliovirus importation as an emergency,” said, Mr Louis-Georges Arsenault.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Bachchan said, “India’s present polio-free status is a matter of great pride. I feel privileged to have been part of the anti-polio campaign. I am delighted that our efforts in spreading awareness and mobilizing communities for polio vaccination have been successful. But this fight was not an easy one. We must thank the thousands of UNICEF supported SMNet Mobilizers and Government vaccinators who have made this victory possible.”

It is noted that India was certified polio-free in February 2014- a feat it accomplished overcoming several challenges including population density, high rates of migration, poor sanitation, high birth rates, and low rates of routine immunization in the highest risk states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

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