The Hindu : Kalam launches polio campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 04, 2004

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National

Kalam launches polio campaign

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, administering polio drops to a baby to mark the launch of the countrywide Pulse Polio Programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday, as the Union Health Minister, Sushma Swaraj, looks on. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI JAN. 3. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said today that efforts to eradicate polio from the country should be strengthened and asked officials to ensure that every child was given polio drops.

``There is no room for complacency. Even if one child suffers from polio, our purpose is defeated,'' he said launching the pulse polio campaign here at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

``When I was in the DRDO, I saw polio-gripped children with braces that weighed about three kilograms. Then I suggested use of light metal and by using the metal, the weight was reduced to 300 grams. The time has now come that we make sure that nobody needs them,'' he said.

The President administered polio drops to six children and released a calendar with messages about the disease. "These messages will help shed myths among the people about the drops," he said. On having more polio-eradication rounds, the Union Health Minister, Sushma Swaraj, said: ``We are working towards achieving zero level by the end of 2004.'' ``We do not want situations as in Karnataka, West Bengal and Maharashtra to crop up anywhere in the country. The number of rounds have been increased to reach each and every child,'' she said.

There would be six national rounds with more stress on areas from where the cases have been reported.

The Government has released Rs. 1,100 crores for polio eradication and has set a deadline to achieve polio-free status by 2007, Ms. Swaraj added. — PTI

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