Amitabh Bachchan to be felicitated for Polio Campaign

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who has been actively campaigning for polio eradication since 2002, will be honoured for his contribution to the cause. In April 2005, he was also officially appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador with a focus on HIV/AIDS and polio eradication.

In a recent blog Amitabh wrote, "And the organisation that acknowledges social work for a cause, will honour yours truly for the work done as UNICEF ambassador for the fight against polio, which as you know has had some rather encouraging achievements."

The biggest achievement came in February, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) had taken India off the list of polio endemic countries. Also, there has been no case of polio reported last year.
Amitabh Bachchan also said, “For an entire year there has been no case of polio reported in the country for the first time since the campaign began.”

Big B further added, “That is fantastic for a country plagued with the disease for years. A gentle pat on the back, if I may. There is more to come, and when it does I shall inform. It is for another cause I have worked on. A most rewarding experience.”

In a study conducted by the Social and Rural Research Institute and commissioned by UNICEF and health ministry, it has been reported that in socio-economic categories, 73.6 percent guardians with children under the age of five could recall the polio TV ad featuring Amitabh Bachchan.