In short :
The Government of India is planning a phased winding down of the NPSN — a critical surveillance system established by the WHO and MoHFW in 1997 that helped eliminate wild polio virus from India.
Key Features of NPSN :
- Established: 1997, under the National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP).
- Objective: To detect, track, and eliminate poliovirus through real-time surveillance and rapid response.
- Coverage: Over 200 field units across India.
- Surveillance Method:
- Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) tracking in children <15 years.
- Environmental surveillance (testing sewage/water).
- Lab Support: WHO-accredited labs test stool/water samples.
- Extended Role: Also monitors measles, rubella, DPT, and trains health workers on new vaccines.
CONCEPTS
POLIO :India’s Polio Eradication Journey:
- Polio: Viral disease causing paralysis or death, spreads via faeco-oral route.
- Vaccination Tools:
- OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) at birth, 6, 10, 14 weeks; booster at 16–24 months.
- IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine) given with DPT3 under UIP.
- Pulse Polio Campaign: Launched in 1995, massive door-to-door vaccination.
- Milestones:
- NPSN’s Role: Backbone of surveillance and rapid containment of outbreaks.
- Last case in 2011.
- India declared polio-free in 2014 by WHO.
