India might be gearing up to be certified as a polio-free nation from WHO on Tuesday with not a single new case of polio having been reported in the past three years within the country's boundaries; Mewat in Haryana, however, is among a few bastions in the country that remains vulnerable to the crippling disease.
Having population of 11 lakh, Mewat is one of the most backwards areas in the country, with extremely poor health indicators. High infant and maternal mortality rates, low female literacy rates, poor sanitation and socio-cultural taboos are all part of life in this Muslim-dominated district. "It is the 5th lowest district in country for fully-immunized children," said a senior official from Union Health Ministry.
Since 2001 till 2010 except in 2005, polio cases have been reported from the district. In January 2010, a polio-positive case was reported, prompting the authorities to launch intense polio campaigns and immunizations programmes in Mewat. Nearly three lakh children up to age of five years were administered polio drops in the recent round in the district.
"Also, religious leaders are requested to appeal to the locals to come forward for polio immunization, especially pulse polio for their children. The appeals also read that various Muslim countries have already adopted these vacancies for their children and there are no harms in it," said Dr BK Rajora, chief medical officer, Mewat.
The efforts have paid results. Not a single case has been reported since 2010 till date. In 2001-2, 21 cases were reported from Haryana, in 2009, two cases and in 2010, one case.
"However, we can't be complacent as the need to administer polio vaccine doses is yet to be felt among the locals," said Dr Sanjeev Tomar, polio surveillance medical officer of WHO, in-charge of Faridabad, Mewat and Palwal district. Unfortunately, in some pockets of the districts, a large population still resists in bringing their children to the polio booths for administration of the drops.
"Moreover, the district (Mewat) borders with Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and there is risk of importation of the disease," added Dr Jitendra, nodal officer for the immunization programme in the district.
Dr Tomar further said that in some villages people refuse to come to polio camps, citing lack of other health facilities such as inadequate medical human resources and infrastructure as well other developmental works.
Though the district is considered the third highest settlement polio endemic zone, Delhi and Hardwar being the first two, steps are not being taken to strengthen the health indicators in the district.
Apathy on the part of the Government is starkly visible. For instance, even though a polio case was reported from Punhana village in 2010, lessons are hardly learnt. Against sanctioned 12 medical officers for the block there are just two.
There is no senior medical officer since the last official was retired two years ago. Similarly in Pinguna and Tiar block, both high-endemic zones, there is no medical officer, sources said noting that such complacency will bound to threaten the polio campaign in the country.
Though India was declared polio-free in January this year, officially the World Health Organisation (WHO) will certify it as polio-free on February 11 after the last of random samples picked up are tested. India being declared polio-free is important as it was the only country in the South East Asian region (SEARO) with polio cases.