After creating awareness against Polio in Bihar, Kolkata and Delhi, MTS continues its endeavor to strengthen the crusade for Polio eradication. Empowering people with information, MTS has once again tied up with India Unite to End Polio Now (IUEPN), as its communication partner to spread awareness about Polio across Delhi NCR and Haryana. 

 The latest IUPEN campaign saw innovative use of space on Gurgaon’s first door-to-door CNG-run, GPS enabled three- wheeler service- Radio Tuk Tuk. More than 50 Tuk Tuks with MTS branding and Polio eradication messages would ply within Gurgaon to spread awareness about the cause. 

 These specially branded Radio Tuk Tuks were flagged off today from Leisure Valley, Sector 29, Gurgaon by KV Ramachandra, Executive Director – Corporate Sales and Rod Curtis, Communication for Development – Specialist, Polio Eradication Unit, UNICEF India.


 IUPEN, supported by UNICEF, is working towards immunizing all the children below five years of age during the upcoming Pulse Polio drive on August 28th in Delhi NCR and Haryana. 

 While the Polio virus seems well contained within communities with not a single case reported in Haryana for over a year, the big concern now is of migrant populations who lead nomadic lifestyles. Containing and monitoring the virus among these communities is a challenge. Special initiatives through audio-visual publicity equipment especially at the bus stands, railway stations and traffic light will be used to spread awareness about the campaign.

 As communication partner for the program, using the power of mobile technology, MTS will be sending SMSs to all its subscribers across Delhi NCR and Haryana, creating awareness for Polio eradication and notifying them about Polio Rounds on August 28th 2011.  The SMS would read: "Polio Abhiyan 28th Aug - Polio ka koi ilaaj nahi, 2 boond har bar hai bachav sahi’, ‘Pehle 5 saal, mere bachhon ko 2 boond har bar" (There is no cure for Polio except the 2 drops of vaccine every time. For the first 5 yrs, 2 drops of vaccine every time)

 Health organizations across the world have been working hard toward their goal to eliminate Polio worldwide by 2013, making it the second communicable disease to be eradicated after smallpox.

 Polio is close to being eradicated in India with a marked decrease from 42 cases in 2010 and 741 polio cases reported the year previously.

 Nations are considered polio-free only after going three years without an outbreak, something that requires constant vigilance. New epidemics can flare up quickly. To counter it, information and awareness on prevention, especially in the impoverished communities are the key essentials, especially in the monsoon season, when water-borne transmission is highest.