Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has emphasized the need for strengthening routine immunization to sustain gains in containing new polio cases in the country. He said a zero tolerance plan has been put in place across the country to avert the risk of importing the virus from other Polio endemic countries. Addressing the valedictory session of Polio Summit 2012 in New Delhi, Mr Azad said that 2012 has been declared as the year of the intensification of routine immunization.

The Minister said that the government will accelerate routine immunization activities through special drives. He said , lessons from the Polio programme could prove to be extremely useful in accomplishing the tasks of elimination of measles related child deaths and neonatal tetanus in India. Mr Azad informed that web enabled mother and child tracking system has also been put in place to ensure that every pregnant woman and every new born child is registered. He said that 26 million mothers and children have already been registered and immunization and other health services will be provided to them on time.

Mr. Azad announced yesterday that World Health Organisation has taken India's name off the list of Polio endemic countries. The Minister also asserted to maintain highly sensitive surveillance and to keep high immunity levels among children against polio. He said that it will be possible only with effective emergency preparedness and response.