Ahead of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring India as "polio-free", Odisha today claimed that no case of polio has been detected in the state in last five years.
"As per records, the last polio case in Odisha was detected in Bhattli block of Bargarh district in August 2008 and in the same year a similar case in Shanti Nagar, Bhubaneswar. The achievement was due to the massive awareness and immunisation programme," said Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, state Health and Family Welfare Secretary.
Stating that India has reasons to feel proud, Mohapatrasaid that is only the second time in the history that
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A disease has been eliminated in the country through immunisation after small pox.
The state government has, however, decided to conduct intensified pulse polio immunization (IPPI) drive from January 19 to 21 in a bid to get every child below five years get vaccinated for the virus, he said.
The state-wide drive would comprise immunisation at the booths on January 19 followed by house to house activity in which all the children shall be administered two drops of oral polio vaccine over next two days.
All the departments have been instructed to mobilise their resources and work towards the goal in a coordinated manner, he stated.
