A two-day international polio summit is being organised in Delhi for eradication of polio from the country. Talking to reporters today, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Ms. Anuradha Gupta said that the third polio summit will deliberate on ways to build synergies for sustaining the momentum to eradicate the disease. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Summit on Saturday.

Giving details Ms Gupta informed that India completed a year without reporting any case of polio. Describing it a major achievement, she said that if no case is reported for the next two years, it will be understood that the crippling disease has been eradicated from the country. She said that the last bastions of polio in India – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal are expected to present their efforts and challenges.

AIR correspondent reports the Health Ministers of polio endemic countries Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Nepal are expected to attend the global summit. US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization – National Polio Surveillance Project and UNICEF will also participate in the summit.