New Delhi: In view of resurgence of polio in some states and consequent worldwide criticism, the Centre on May 14 announced new measures to control polio with an aim to reach the eradication goal by 2005.

"We are renewing focus on polio to be free from this disease. I am confident that we will be able to lower the number of polio cases by next year and eradicate polio by 2005," Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said after a meeting with representatives of 10 states where polio has resurged.

The aim of the meeting was to prepare for sub-national immunisation day for polio, which is slated for 1st June, she said.

Swaraj said that in the new strategy, there would be six rounds of polio immunisation campaigns this year and the next. These six rounds would be in form of two national days all over the country and four sub-national days in the 10 states.

In the following three years, there would be three rounds, she added.

If zero level (no polio cases) were maintained for two years after reaching eradication goal, the country would get the certificate from World Health Organisation by 2007.

The minister said that while in 2000, polio eradication campaign had resulted in lowering of the number of polio cases in the country to 268, the decrease in the number of rounds for polio immunisation to only two national immunisation days resulted in a jump in polio cases to 1630 in 2001.

This was criticised by other countries, which had reached the eradication goals as it could endanger their polio free status as well, she said.

PTI