World Polio Day on October 24: How India beat polio with its 'Do Boond Zindagi Ki' campaign

World Polio Day is observed across the world on October 24 every year. The day is not only meant to recall a disease. It aims to honour the medical discoveries and the sacrifices of health workers who brought millions of children around the world out of the shadow of disability.

The day was begun jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Rotary International. October 24 was chosen for a reason: it is the birth anniversary of Dr Jonas Salk, the scientist who developed the first effective vaccine against polio. Thanks to his discovery, polio cases worldwide have fallen by more than 99 per cent.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious and dangerous disease spread by a virus. The virus mostly attacks the nervous system of young children. Within hours, the muscles of the body can weaken and the child can be left permanently disabled. In some severe cases, the muscles used for breathing stop working, which can be fatal. The virus spreads rapidly through contaminated water, food and filth.

There is no sure medical cure for the disease, so prevention is the only remedy. The polio vaccines (OPV and IPV) are the only safe shield for children.

India's journey to a polio-free status is an inspiration and an unmatched example for the whole world. In the 1990s, lakhs of children in India were struck by polio every year. Challenges such as a dense population, varied geography and poor sanitation led many to consider it almost impossible to eradicate polio from the country. But through the Pulse Polio Campaign launched by the Government of India, and the round-the-clock work of health workers, Anganwadi workers and lakhs of volunteers, India achieved what was thought impossible.

The slogan "Do Boond Zindagi Ki" (two drops of life) reached every home in the country. Health workers went to public places, railway stations, bus stands and remote areas to give children polio drops. As a result of this large effort, India's last polio case was recorded on January 13, 2011.

No new case was found for three years after that. In March 2014, the World Health Organization officially declared India a polio-free country. This victory is regarded as the brightest chapter in India's health history.

Although India has succeeded against polio, the goal of a polio-free world is still to be reached. As long as the virus exists in any one country, the risk to children in other countries cannot be ruled out.

For this reason, the importance of routine immunisation is stressed every year on World Polio Day. Parents need to ensure that their young children receive all doses of the polio vaccine on time, according to their age, so that the virus cannot rise again.