A UNICEF study in the polio-prone western UP has revealed that the Muslim community there is leading the way in eradicating the disease. This contradicts recent arguments that the recurrent cases of polio in the region were mainly due to the failure of many Muslims to have their children vaccinated.

In its March newsletter India Communication Update, the UN agency that monitors child welfare says since the start of this year, Urdu teachers, Hajis and a larger number of mosques and madrasas have participated in polio immunization awareness campaigns.

The report says “74 per cent of the mosques monitored in Meerut made polio announcements in February compared to 61 per cent in January” this year. More than three quarters monitored in Muzaffarnagar made announcements of polio vaccine dates last month, it says.

“It is a myth to a large extent that the Muslim population is resisting vaccination. Women’s gatherings called Ijtema, where the Quran is discussed, are now talking polio and the importance of being vaccinated,” said Augustine Veliath, country communications officer of Unicef.

Titled Breakthrough in Meerut, the report says, “Seventy per cent of madrasas monitored organised bulawa tolis (children’s brigades that fetch eligible children from households) in Meerut district — a marked increase from 37 per cent in January.”

The monitoring programme also noted that poets were publishing “poetry on polio...to encourage wider publicity”.

“When the research team from Jamia Millia Islamia conducted discussions in Meerut urban and Muzaffarnagar in November 2006, it was clear that the levels of motivation and participation were dipping.

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