New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was today conferred with the Polio Eradication Champion Award by Rotary International in a function organized by India National Polio Plus Committee at New Delhi.
Mr. Bob Scott, Chairman International Polio Plus Committee of Rotary International presented the award. The award has been given in recognition of her government’s efforts in overcoming the challenge of polio.
She complimented the team of Delhi Government, doctors, officers supporting staff & health ministers during last 15 years and dedicated & devoted Rotarians. Without the kind of unparalleled commitment and essence of determination & sacrifice, the voluntary spirit from all Rotarians this would never have become possible, she added. In the history of Medical World, Polio will be only the second disease to be eradicated after small pox.
Dikshit also stated there had not been a single case of polio reported in Delhi over the last three years. Despite migration from other states the city government has been able to make Delhi a Polio-free state as migration of other states carries the threat of virus importation. Delhi Health Minister Dr. A.K. Walia also joined Smt. Dikshit in accepting the award.
The Polio Eradication Champion Award, established in 1995 is the highest honour Rotary presents to heads of state, health agency leaders and others to recognize their commitment and the promise to making our world Polio-free. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit truly deserves to be in this admirable list", said Bob Scott.
Dikshit now joins a roster of distinguished leaders including India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Former US President Bill Clinton and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, former Prime Minister of United Kingdom Tony Blair, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Gates foundation co-chair Bill Gates Sr., and philanthropist and honorary Rotary member Smt. Rajashree Birla of Aditya Birla Group, amongst others.
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