Fight against polio started by Dr. Harsh Vardhan does India proud

Fight against polio started by Dr. Harsh Vardhan does India proud, Bill Gates lauds India’s “Pulse Polio Program”- calls it “the most impressive global success he has ever seen”

Dr. Harsh Vardhan writes to Bill Gates, thanks him for appreciation

New Delhi, 11 November:  Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi and former health minister of Delhi, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today wrote to Microsoft founder Bill Gates thanking him for the high words of appreciation for the Pulse Polio Programme of India. The pulse program was originally conceived and initiated in Delhi by Dr. Harsh Vardhan during his tenure as Health Minister in BJP’s regime from 1993 to 1998.

The Pulse Polio Program is the brainchild of Dr. Harsh Vardhan who has many international accolades and is recognized as a global icon due to his path breaking achievements in the field of public health.  In an article recently, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates had lavishly praised the Pulse Polio Program of India saying “India's success offers a script for winning some of the world's most difficult battles in every area of human welfare.”

In his letter to Bill Gates Dr. Harsh Vardhan said “As you know my country had more than 60 per cent of the world’s polio afflicted children. When we started our fight against polio, we were told repeatedly that we were aiming for the impossible, and, as you have also mentioned in your article, that ‘polio would be eliminated in every country before it was eliminated in India’.”

Dr. Harsh Vardhan further said  that India’s success in immunizing around 170 million children on a single day on special national immunization days, and to sustain this for years is a testament to the will and commitment of our people. “We are proud that India has not reported a single case of polio in the last three years,” he added.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan has also appreciated Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for their support to this crucial program. “As WHO prepares to declare India polio-free in the next few months, I want to place on record my appreciation for the immense support extended by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for our efforts,” said Dr. Harsh Vardhan in his letter.