BANGALORE, Dec 27:
India is all set to be declared as ‘Polio Free’ country by the WHO next month, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Gulab Nabi Azad said today.
‘As there were no deaths reported duo to Polio since last three years the country becomes eligible to be declared as ‘Polio Free’. The deadline for such declaration ends on January 13-2014 and hope no deaths will be reported duo to polio in the next 17 days,’ he added.
Addressing a press conference here after a review meeting of his department with Karnataka Minister for Health U T Kadar, Minister of State for Medical Education Dr Sharanprakash Patil and officials here, he said earlier India had reported 50 per cent death of children due to polio in the world but with new strategy adopted, vaccines introduced and health measures taken the country is all set to achieve total success.
He said after launch of the National Rural Health Mission the children mortality rate has come down drastically in the country. In 1990 the children death rate was 80 per 1000 and it has come down to 42 in 2012 and similarly the maternal mortality rate which was 254 per lakh women in 2004-06 has come down to 178 per lakh in 2012.
Replying to a question, Mr Azad said the Centre has put on hold the decision of banning arcanut following pressure from arcanut growing states including Karnataka. (UNI)
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