Dr Vardhan pointed out that though India was polio-free now, there was always the danger of the virus resurfacing as Pakistan accounts for 85% of the world’s polio cases. He said it was imperative the two countries cooperated to permanently eliminate this threat.
“We have extended cooperation to Pakistan in the past as well. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has issued some reasonable statements about rooting it out and we want to assure him of our support,” Dr Vardhan said. Nawaz had announced a ‘National Emergency Action Plan-2014’ to take steps for polio eradication on a war footing.
“I have been through the plan and find that the script is perfect. Pakistan has resolved to set up monitoring cells at the grassroots.
They are also talking of involving social groups, a strategy which worked wonderfully in India,” the minister said.
Dr Vardhan said Pakistan could draw on the Indian experience and learn from the challenges that were faced while transforming India from a country with 60% of the world’s polio cases to a certified polio-free nation. “This particular model would stand Pakistan in good stead. Unless all stakeholders, most importantly its religious clergy, are involved, it would be impossible to achieve total polio eradication.”
Referring to the threat of the virus entering India from Pakistan and Afghanistan, Dr Vardhan said measures have been put in place at border crossings. These include vaccination for those travelling both ways and emergency response plans.
“The ministry will introduce the injectable vaccine in the immunisation programme next year — in line with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s action plan,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2014.
COMMENTS (36)
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@Sunil:
"But the fact is I am importing labour from Bihar / Bengal/ UP at the rate of 300 Rupees (5$) a day."
Divide $5 over a family of 4 and you will get precisely $1.25 per day per person. Moreover, only lucky people get paid for 30 days in a month as most unskilled laborers are given only daily wages, even in your own factory. Aren't they?
@asad rizvi: India has worked very hard to eliminate Polio. Since we are neighbors it is very likely that infection may migrate to India from Pakistan. It is in India's interest to help Pakistan. They are trying their best to tackle the problems you have mentioned that equally apply to Pakistan also.
We don't want more Shakil Afridi's in our country.
Thanks, But NO THANKS we don't need your help.
@Zaid Hamid: I usually enjoy your humor. But right now my dear friend you are mocking innocent children who have no say in our politics. You will find many more blogs to come where you can use your art and sense of humor and sarcasm, but here it is unwarranted, lets try to keep this one discussion clean. I am sorry, I didn't mean to call you out, I understand your intention was just to crack joke :)
Pakistan would never accept any help from India, until Kashmir dispute is solved,
@asad rizvi: Thanks Asad, that was kind of you to ask us focus on our poor. I guess everything is all right at your end and you apparently need no help. But I would like to hear the same from parents who are concerned about their kids getting polio. And also from the polio infected person who is suffering the impact of that disease. Please don't let your ego risk their chance of survival.
@asad rizvi: But we have eradicated polio in spite of all the problems.
What kind of blasphemy is this? Solving polio problem before core issue of Kashmir? Pakistan must protest in the UN.
I think India should hands off this Pak polio affairs. It would only compromise their fight. Its involvement would be another reason for mullah and extremists to reject this program - remember how Osama incident was exploited against this cause. Paks problem with polio eradication is unique to their society and they should find a way out. But however India's concerns are legitimate as a neighbor.
@asad rizvi: I totally agree with you. India should mind its own business. These very same kids that India is trying to help, would turn enemies of it when they grow up.
@G. Din: I am sorry I do not agree. India has experience and strategies of dealing with all religious community, rich-poor,city-village, mountains regions,dessert challenges etc and have successfully eradicated polio. There is lots to share how it was managed it on massive scale, mobilised and reach people even in remote areas and convince reluctant people right way. Pakistan govt officials come in india every now and then anyway, to learn about projects be metro railway, or recently held maharastra state elections electroning voting/people management where they had came to witness it. I don't see why they can't benefit and implement from Dr harshvardhan's offer. It's need of the hour. Before it spreads and spoils more kids life there and increase their polio eradication budget. Plus it would help india too as the virus can still come back through people from from polio hit countries. Win-win situation. @asad Rizvi he's tryng to help based on his own experiences he faced not insult so please remove your hate filled goggles and leave your inferior complex aside and think of affected and people in risk for once.
Pakistan was created solely for the sake of Muslim vanity. Acceptance of any kind of help from India will undermine the very reason of its own creation
@GS@Y: " A team of public health officials from India can sit down in Islamabad with those programming the response to polio in Pakistan, and educate and advise as needed. " Pipe down! Do not get carried away by your "bhai-bhai" enthusiasm. Do you think that Pakistanis need any technical help ( which is all what India can offer)? They know what needs to be done. The problem is elsewhere. No one, Indians or otherwise, can help them there.
India must help Pakistan as their is a great possibility of spread of this polio virus from Pakistan to India.
Hamza are you mad ? its about lives of many kids who are suffering and its not about ego
Good suggestion.
Taking Indias help in polio eradication will be a boon to pakistan
India, please mind your own business and concentrate on your domestic problems, which is numerous. Take an example, as report suggest 55% of your 1.1 billion citizens or 645 million people, are living in poverty. You talk lot about Pakistan but you have 17 out of 22 billionaires ministers. Nearly 42% of Indians live on less than $1.25 per day, the highest numbers of poor in the world. This is why, suicide among-st poor is common in your country. Disrespect of foreigners specially (women & girls) is commonly known to the outside world, as rape is part of your society has risen by manifolds. Discrimination to gender is a well known problem. Despite all the drum-beating you still have unemployment rate of nearly 9 pct. Data suggest that over 25 pct or 250 million people of India is illiterate. So please leave us alone and wash your dirty linen at home as you have a long list of social and economic issues. All that glitter is not gold and India is certainly not shining. It is the Western economic strategy to engage two of the most populated countries India & China, which is 40 pct of the global population or else it was the demise of the Western world, as debt loaded Europe would find few buyer.......
I want to tell modi that he shouldn't get into this nonsense of helping pakistan , see what has happened to polio workers of pakistan. Just concentrate on our development , let pakistanis suffer because of their own religious bigotry . and no pakistani trolls should point fingers at india.
BTW it is not only India that can help. Pakistan has done better than us in TB regulation. Basically, both countries have similar problems, and can be a study in contrast in battling diseases.
India is such a nice country.
I smiled after reading this head line. According to General Parvez Musharaff; India is number one enemy of Pakistan and Muslims.
General has the right to his views, I am affirmative that India is not number one enemy of humanity otherwise more than 8 % of world humanity would not have housed in India.
The polio vaccines from the eastern sector could be contaminated and cause adverse side affects such as infertility among the population. The vaccines need to be checked by either the UN or a neutral third party before being administered to patients.
this is a matter of healthy future for all. Let's all join hands, tomorrow it could be my great grand children, anyone's family member. Let government and opposition all hold a collective dharna all over country to spread the message of Polio free country. Good luck in your endeavour.
These are good initiative for regional co-operation. But we know what will be Pakistan's response.
That is a commendable gesture by Indian Health Minister, Pakistan's problem is different though. In India it was a deliberate attempt to create misconceptions about Polio vaccine, especially amongst minority community but in case of Pakistan it is extremism which is hampering the Polio eradication campaign as the mainstream clergy is already on board. It is really sad to note that just 10 years back Pakistan was almost Polio Free and now 85% of the total Polio cases of the world are in Pakistan.
This is high time that all the Politicians, Civic Society, Clergy, Army and other stakeholders join hands and make concerted efforts to get rid of this menace once for all.
Peace.
Good offer Pakistan should accept ..
Pakistan must take this helping hand being offered by India. Pakistan must think for her own people. Be little bit selfish and get any help it could get for that. We can eliminate polio from the face of this earth. India has the expertize of making 1.25 billion people polio free why pakistan shouldn't use their knowledge. I hope Mr. Nawaz Sharif takes this offer. it will help pakistan enormously. Pakistan doesn't need money for this it just needs some expertize which India can offer. I remember India has pass through similar experience when same religious clergy thought polio will make their kids sterile. India got through that phase without firing any bullet. Let's together give our kids "Do Bund Zindagi Ki"
I hope sense dawns that Polio is the bigger enemy!
This is a great idea and exactly the kind of good will gesture that Pakistan and India need from each other. All other issues aside, the government of Pakistan must immediately respond to this offer, even if only as an instance of compartmentalized cooperation. A team of public health officials from India can sit down in Islamabad with those programming the response to polio in Pakistan, and educate and advise as needed. Perhaps someone from the Indian government or a policy expert can even be sent to Pakistan on deputation to provide ongoing technical help.
Lower your ego and love your neighbours!
Pakistan faces eat-the-grass moment!
Dr Harsh Vardhan which world do you live in Pakistan will never take our help . It is not the Generals/ Politicians kids who get polio but kids of the poor who cares about them .
No, no no no !! How can a true Muslim know what is in the katra? What if my nasl ends after taking the drops?