Polio-free Bangladesh

Finally, Bangladesh, along with ten other nations, has been declared polio free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and it is indeed a moment of pride for our country. Gradually we will sweep away all the negative elements like illiteracy, poverty and corruption from our country.
The WHO certifies a country polio free only after being completely satisfied by confirmed zero case for at least three years.  
This victory has been possible for the relentless work of millions of health workers who have worked with the government, non-government organisations, civil society and international partners to eradicate polio from our country. But then we must remain vigilant until polio is totally eradicated. We cannot simply be complacent until then. It is a big victory and we have proved that if we really want to achieve something, we can do it unitedly. Unfortunately, polio still exists.
Although polio cases have decreased by over 99 per cent since 1988, this reduction is the result of the global effort to eradicate the disease. But it is a continuous battle. We must not forget that there is no cure for polio. It can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life and save him from the clutches of this fatal disease.
Roksana Sultana
Uttara, Dhaka