LUCKNOW: Stressing the need for a concerted awareness programme for polio eradication, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday claimed that 37 out of 70 districts of the state were now polio free.
''There is no single case of P-1 polio virus being reported during last three months even as 520 cases had been reported from various parts of the state in 2006,'' she said, while flagging off a 'mini-marathon' organised by a private news channel to forge awareness about eradication of the infectious disease.
Mayawati said the sustained efforts of the state health machinery had resulted in complete eradication of P-2 virus, while P-3 polio virus cases had lowered down considerably.
She called upon other organisations to come forward in the awareness campaign and assured all help from the government in this regard.
The UP CM asserted that getting rid of polio was the top priority of her government which would spare no effort to take up the task.
The BSP supremo lauded the initiative of the private news channel for organising such public-service events.
S C Mishra, the Chairman of state advisory board, UP chief sectretary P K Mishra and Health Minister Anant Mishra were also present on the occasion.
