On the way to Eradication (Feeling proud)

Today, on 13 January 2014, it has been exactly 3 years since the last case of Polio was detected in India. Continuous efforts at various levels has brought us to this landmark- India is now Polio-Free.

As a kid, I saw a case of poliomyelitis and felt sorry for the bhaiyya suffering from it. As a student, I read about polio in books and realized there is no cure- only prevention. As a fresher medical student, I saw polio cases in the hospital and saw some hope for the paralyzed victims- in the form of rehabilitation. As a senior medical student and intern, I was a part of the prevention programs. And that! That is what I can say makes me proud.

First duty. Ghonda, Delhi

My first Pulse Polio posting was in a corner of Delhi I had never heard of. When I reached the center (a government school) on the Sunday morning, I saw a long queue of kids waiting to be immunized. The awareness created for the immunization drives is one key factor making us reach this milestone today. There are prominent banners all over, loudspeakers announcing the dates, celebrities advertising on televisions and radios, schools informing people. Usually everyone knows about a ‘Pulse Polio Ravivaar’ (Sunday).

Loudspeakers announcing the Pulse Polio Ravivar. Palam, Delhi

On subsequent immunization drives, I came across the difficulties that the drive was facing- the stigma amongst the various sections of the society regarding the vaccine. The worst was the myth that the vaccine leads to infertility. (Oh! This one got me facing a mob of angry people because I gave the ‘do boond zindagi ke’ to a 5 year old Muslim boy who came unaccompanied). For some people, polio is just a disease of the poor that cannot affect their rich kids. Problems for all classes.

Health talks by medical students (in the community and at the health center). Kalyanpuri, Delhi

But, the difficulties were overcome by awareness programs, political reforms, rotary organizations, international aids and global goals. There have been huge groups of volunteers who went door to door, who sat for hours educating people, creating awareness, and putting a stop to the spread of this deadly virus.

Ice boxes being prepared for maintaining the vaccine vials. Palam, Delhi.

When we were immunizing children one at a time, none of us realized that we were being a miniscule yet vital part of this gigantic national (rather international) effort at eradicating polio. We were paid 25 rupees (50 cents) for those duties. It’s not then, but now that we have truly been paid! Paid in full with the joy of knowing that history is in the making- that polio is now going to be limited to textbooks- that no kid will be exposed to it ever again!

Child by child. Country by country. Region by region. Polio is on its way out! Cheers to that.