The World Health Organisation has lauded India’s efforts in health–care initiatives aimed at improving the health of its mothers and children

NEW DELHI, The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday lauded India’s efforts in eradicating polio and said the country has not reported a single case of polio in the last 30 months.

"You did it. For 30 months you have not got a single case of polio," WHO Director General Margaret Chan said while addressing the meeting of Health Ministers of South–East Asia Region in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee.

She said India achieved the feat even as 194 countries in the world were speculating whether it can interrupt the transmission of polio.

She also urged nations of the region to adopt universal healthcare access for all.

"I want to urge countries in this region. Please continue to champion universal access to healthcare. That is the platform to deliver healthy human capital that are important for sustainable development in the future," she said.

The WHO DG complimented India’s health–care initiatives in improving the health of its mothers and children and said, "This country is moving in a big way to promote better health to their women and to their children."

She also lauded the role of Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad saying, "This country is very fortunate to have a minister totally dedicated to health."

She also expressed concern over the growing incidence of heart disease which saw 9.4 million deaths every year and said high blood pressure has contributed to it.

"The scale of the problem is a challenge," she said, adding that more than one in three adults across the world are suffering from high blood pressure.

Ms. Chan was here to attend the 31st Health Ministers’ meeting of South–East Asia region which comprises of almost 1.8 billion people.