Statement by U.S. Ambassador Nancy J. Powell

On behalf of the United States Government and the American people, I congratulate India on its success in completing three years without a new case of polio being reported anywhere in the country.  India’s achievement and its collaboration with the United States and the international community represent our common commitment to resolving global health issues.  India’s polio program is a great example of solving complex public health challenges through the application of evidence, strong partnerships built and firmly rooted at the community level, and pioneering innovations in health systems and service delivery.

Multiple organizations – such as the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the Indian Medical Association, private doctors, numerous social mobilizers, volunteers, local, religious and traditional leaders, NGOs, individuals, celebrities, the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, UNICEF, the CORE Group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  – have worked under India’s leadership to arrive at this unprecedented milestone.