Uttar Pradesh beats India in race against polio

LUCKNOW: In a first, Uttar Pradesh has become polio-free before the rest of India. On Sunday, the government machinery observed 'sankalp divas' to mark three years of being polio free even as India has completed only two. "Not a single polio case has been reported in UP in the last three years," said chief minister Akhilesh Yadav who also urged health officials to sustain the momentum to guard the state against the virus.

He also stated that the programme to make UP polio-free was launched by his father. "The effort was taken to villages as a result of which not a single child has been afflicted by the virus in the state," he said. Religious leaders were lauded for playing an important role in social mobilisation for the cause.

Health and family welfare minister Ahmad Hasan who was also present on the occasion said the government would run effective health programmes for the poor to help them avail maximum benefits. "The government is already providing the option of free polio corrective surgery in district hospitals," he said.

Regarding gaps in referral of patients from one hospital to another, the health minister said it should be done to higher centres but the rule is being flouted. He also gave instructions that all patients being referred should be transported in an ambulance. He informed media about different ambulance services in the pipeline.