Now, Even Village Heads Roped in to Boost Polio Drive

This article describes how state administrative officials in India are using polio success stories to encourage people to become involved and participate in polio immunisation drives. Volunteers from different fields, including village Pradhans (leaders), non-governmental organisations and education officials are being awarded appreciation certificates to acknowledge their positive contribution to the Pulse Polio campaign.

The article describes one particular success story where a village Pradhan involved members of his village in the January 2007 Pulse Polio campaign. In Bahadurpur and Sultanpur, areas known for opposition to health immunisation workers, the Pradhan and his members traveled from house to house explaining the importance of the oral polio vaccine to parents. According to the article, all 250 children listed by health workers were present on the first day of the Pulse Polio campaign, making the Pradhan’s efforts a complete success.

Health officials are using the success stories of Bhadurpur and Sultanpur to involve other village Pradhans in immunisation drives to help raise awareness about the importance of the polio campaign.