New Delhi: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday expressed his gratitude to the members of the Delhi Medical Association for their sincere contribution in making the first Pulse Polio Campaign successful in 1994. Union Minister today virtually joined the 106th foundation day celebrations of the DMA.
He said, " I fondly recall your contribution which helped in making India Polio free. Now we are witnessing a polio-free India. There has not been even a single case of polio during the last 9 years."
The DMA was founded by Dr M A Ansari in 1914 and Harsh Vardhan had also served as President of DMA during 1993-1994.
This was the time when he was also holding the post of Delhi Health Minister and dreamt of a polio-free India in 1994.
He stated, “I am the first member of your fraternity and later Union Health Minister. I would never let you down anytime. I do hope that you will continue to serve the society with sinvigoury, honesty, renewed vigour and commitment.”
Dr Vardhan congratulated all members of the DMA on its foundation day
While referring to the ongoing fight against coronavirus, Dr Harsh stated, " We have done our best in mitigating the effects of the pandemic. Our recovery rate is highest in the world whereas the fatality rate is the lowest. We had only one laboratory for testing samples for coronavirus, today we are having more than 1400 laboratories in the country."
Dr Vardhan stated that we are committed to eliminating TB from India by 2025, 5 years ahead of the target set up by the WHO. He paid his rich tributes to 245, doctors, nurses, paramedical workers (corona warriors) who lost their lives during the course of delivering their duties.
Further, he added that the government is committed to commission 1.5 lakh wellness centres under Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY programme in the country by 2022 end.
