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Yaws
elimination in India:
A step towards eradication
19 September 2006, New Delhi
 
Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare,
declared Elimination of Yaws in India
at a function held at Vigyan Bhawan,
New Delhi, on
19th September 2006. Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, WHO-South East Asia
Region was the Guest of Honour. The Minister stated
that the elimination of Yaws was a significant public health achievement in India and
that the key to success was policy support, political commitment and resource
mobilization. India
has achieved elimination of Yaws with no infectious case reported since 2004.
The target date for eradication has been revised to 2008/09, i.e no sero-reactivity to
RPR/VDRL in under-five children, after achieving nil reporting of early
infectious cases for three years.
He commended the dedicated work of the health
authorities of endemic states/districts (49 tribal districts of 10 states) in
implementing the yaws eradication programme (YEP)
and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, which functioned as the
national coordinating agency. India
has been conducting independent appraisals of the YEP periodically since 2000,
supported by WHO, and these have been in monitoring the progress of Yaws
eradication and in advising the national and state authorities on strategies
and actions needed to intensify efforts.
The Minister released the publication “Yaws
elimination in India: A step towards eradication” prepared by the Directorate
General of Health Services and the National Institute of Communicable
Diseases Delhi with technical support from WHO Country Office which
documented the disease history, epidemiology and strategy for yaws
elimination.
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