Biratnagar, August 22 :

The first phase of the polio drop administering campaign will be launched in the country from September 2 to 4, Dr Yasobardan Pradhan, director of the Child Health Division Office, said at a press conference organised here today by the Global Network of Health Journalists.

The second and third phases of the campaign will be launched on October 14-15 and November 18-19 respectively.

Polio drops would be administered to some 45 lakh children under the age of five, said Dr Pradhan said. Presenting a working paper, Dr Pradhan said the campaign was necessary because polio epidemic was still seen in the country. A new polio case had been found in Dailekh in April, Dr Pradhan said.

The campaign against polio was launched in all the districts of the terai after two new polio patients were found in Sarlahi and Rautahat districts last year, said Dr Pradhan.

The number of patients suffering from polio decreased after the polio eradication programme was launched in 1996, said Dr Pradhan, adding that no new polio patients were found between 2000 and 2004.

General Assembly of the WHO had, in the year 1998, passed a proposal on the eradication of polio from the world. People of 125 countries were affected by polio at that time. Chief of the Morang District Public Health Office, Nawaraj Subba, said: “We are close to eradicating polio.”

Judge at Appellate Court Surendra Singh Basnet appreciated the UN commitment to eradicate polio from the world.