E-DRUG: Polio Eradication in India
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Sub: Improve Environment Sanitation & Public Health activities to
Eradicate Polio
Hello e-druggers
This is with reference to the article by Dr.Gopal Dabade refering to the
'Polio eradication in Indian Journal of Medical Research' 2007, It provides
a grim picture of the fact that in spite of decades long fight against polio
virus, even after using extra doses of OPV, there is a long way to go to
make the country Polio Free. The amount of money, man power and time spent
on this so called great effort is not showing the expected or predicted
result.
This situation is seen in almost all the other programs related to the
control or elimination of communicable diseaes in India.
If we see the situations in the developed countries as well as countries
like Malaysia and Singapore, most of the communicable diseases are well
under control or eliminated. They also have a national vaccination program
appropriate to their country's need.
But the most important contributory factor for the control of communicable
diseases is their thrust and committment to improve the Public Health
status. All the developed countries gives significantly greater importance
to the improvement of the Public Health and Environmental Sanitation. A
well established Public Health System with a committed staff is doing
wonders in these countries.
Their thrust is to provide good quality drinking water, a clean
environment with adequate public toilet facilities, monitoring the food
sanitation and also creating an awareness among the public regarding the
importance of the safe keeping of the environment etc etc . Their public
health and disease surveillance system is well in place. This is a lesson
the governments and the NGO's in India should understand and give top most
priority for the improvement of the Public health in the country.
"An Ounce of prevention is worth a Pound of Cure" still holds good and
Indian Health Planners should give importance to Public Health and
Environment Sanitation improvement activities along with Immunization
activities. Then only we can prevent and eliminate or even eradicate
dreadded diseases like poliomyelitis from India. The decades long
vaccination and disease control activities is costing the country money
worth millions.The money spent on the improvement of the Public Health
status is money well spent and people will have good quality drinking water,
good roads, good drainage system, good green & clean environment which will
have an everlasting effect on the Good Health of the People.
"Healthy Living in Healthy Environment", "Healthy cities", "Healthy
Communities" should be promoted to prevent or eliminate or eradicate
communicable diseases. This is also equally important along with
immunizations to provide Better Health for All and Better Quality of Life
to the people in this Country.
Dr.S.Gopalakrishnan
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
Asian Institute of Medicine, Science & Technology
Kedah, Malaysia.
E-mail: drsgopal@gmail.com