'Polio-Free Status for Gujarat an Important Milestone'

Gandhinagar, Jan 11 (IANS) The achievement of a polio-free status by India, including Gujarat, was an important milestone in health indicators for the South-East Asia region, Ban Soon-taek wife of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday.

Ban Soon-taek congratulated the national, state and local governments for their strong will and painstaking efforts to drive out polio at a function to celebrate Gujarat's polio-free status.

"I also commend the tireless efforts of health workers who had to travel long distances to ensure that every child received the oral polio vaccine - not once but multiple times in a year and for many, many years," she added.

Ban Soon-taek and Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India felicitated the state officials for their role in polio eradication at a special event.

Thanking WHO for this special honour, Gujarat Health Minister Nitinbhai Patel said: "For Gujarat, every child is precious and we will further step up our efforts to secure the health and well-being of every child in the state."

"We are also working on further strengthening the health system for health and equity in the state," he added.

Menabde said: "India's fight against polio exemplifies the spirit and determination of its people and is an embodiment of dedication, innovation and synergy. India is polio-free due to the painstaking efforts of each one of you present here. You have not just created history but gifted an entire generation of this country a life free of polio."