PUNE, 18 September 2007 — As per the directives of the Saudi Arabian government, all Haj pilgrims are now required to be immunized against polio in order to be eligible for Haj visas. In view of the new order, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of government of India have issue instructions to all states to conduct their immunization campaigns and communicated to the intending Haj pilgrims of the new polio immunization requirement.
WHO surveillance officer in Maharashtra state Dr. Kishore Chavan said that 10,016 pilgrims will be given the dose of polio in the state this year. Corporation and district-wise health officials along with Haj committee members in their respective regions have been informed about the development, he said.
In Pune, the city district Haj committee conducted its immunization drive recently. According to WHO officials a total of 102,500 Haj pilgrims from India will be immunized against polio as per the directives of the Saudi government.
The Saudi government has asked the Indian authorities to ensure that the Haj pilgrims took their polio drops and carried a certificate authenticating the same.
The Saudi government made the polio immunization certificate mandatory for pilgrims arriving in the country from India, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Accordingly, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry in India, has instructed all state governments to make necessary arrangements for administration of oral polio vaccine as well as certificates to Haj pilgrims.
An official of the Indian Haj Committee said that unfortunately the Muslim population, particularly in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has been misguided by rumors and myths about the polio vaccine, leading to baseless suspicion that it causes impotence. The latest directive from the Saudi government will on the contrary benefit India’s polio eradication program which is likely to get a boost.
A range of communication activities is being planned all over the country in order to educate the Haj pilgrims as well as to renew the support of influential religious leaders toward the anti-polio drive.
