Editorial
Polio campaign
Couldn't have come a day later
A nationwide special polio immunisation programme began yesterday covering two crore children all over the country. This is the second campaign after Bangladesh was declared polio-free after a similar drive with the last case having been detected in August 2000. The global specialised polio laboratory in Mumbai confirmed detection of the disease in a nine-year old Bangladeshi girl. Apparently, the particular strain was initially found in the girl in January 2005 and was referred to the specialised laboratory. The virus found is said to be close to a strain of the particular virus prevalent in Uttar Pradesh in India. Much as we are concerned at the reappearance of the disease -- not so uncommon given that 22 countries once declared polio-free have had to face its recurrence -- the administration's timely move to combat the malady is commendable. Bangladesh is a model in the region insofar as child health care is concerned -- thanks to its many successfully implemented immunisation programmes. It is our strong belief that collaborative efforts between the two neighbouring countries with WHO assistance to go with it, can be nothing but mutually beneficial to both. While we are on the subject of immunisation, we also recommend a review of the status of all preventable communicable diseases with a view to effectively preempting reemergence of any deadly virus we have gotten rid of. In recent times we have heard of recurrence of Malaria. Some of these diseases may not be life-threatening as such but they can certainly impair normal living of an individual including shortening his or her life span. We urge the government to seriously consider setting up of specialised laboratories not for detection of polio alone, but also some other diseases having similar consequences. Simultaneously, a proactive campaign involving the masses with special emphasis on the rural populace must be organised to combat life threatening diseases.
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