The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare recognizes the urgent
need to expand & maintain a surveillance system, which can
fully monitor the impact of PPI's in India. Requirement of strengthening
of surveillance of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) started in India
since Oct. 1997 in collaboration with the World Health Organization
(WHO) The Government of India (GOI) setup the National Polio Surveillance
Project (NPSP) since then the level of AFP surveillance rapidly
improved & reached International standards with quality assurance.
A case of AFP is defined as any child aged less than 15 years who
has acute onset of flaccid paralysis for which no obvious cause
is found. The paralysis is of acute onset (< 4 weeks) & the
affected limb or limbs are flaccid that means floppy or limb tone
is diminished as evidenced by examination by palpation or passive
movement of joints but sensation is not affected. Thorough clinical
examination by well-qualified Doctor confirms AFP diagnosis.
