Raj. CHO -2020: Which of the following diseases has been eradicated from India?

Raj. CHO -2020

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2020

Explanation

Polio has been successfully eradicated from India, a status certified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The last reported case of wild poliovirus in India was on January 13, 2011.
On March 27, 2014, the WHO declared India and the entire South-East Asia Region as polio-free.
This achievement was the result of the sustained Pulse Polio Immunization campaign and a strong Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system.

Option A: Tuberculosis (TB) has not been eradicated. India has a high burden of TB and is actively working towards its elimination through the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).
Option B: Malaria is not eradicated in India. It remains endemic in several regions, and the national goal is to achieve malaria elimination by 2030.
Option D: AIDS, caused by HIV, is not eradicated. While prevention and treatment have improved, India still has a significant number of people living with HIV, and new infections occur.

Visual 1: Infographic: Timeline of Polio Eradication in India - Showing key milestones from the launch of the Pulse Polio program to the WHO certification.
Visual 2: Map: 'Polio-Free World' - A world map highlighting countries that are certified polio-free, with a focus on India's status.
Visual 3: Flowchart: 'Control vs. Elimination vs. Eradication' - A visual diagram explaining the differences between these public health terms with examples.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Disease Eradication Status in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This highlights the power of large-scale, systematic public health interventions like the Pulse Polio program. It underscores the importance of vaccination, community participation, and robust surveillance in controlling and eliminating infectious diseases.
For nurses, this success story reinforces the critical role they play in immunization drives, patient education, and disease surveillance at the community level.
What if the question asked about 'elimination as a public health problem'? The answer might include Leprosy, which India declared eliminated in 2005 (meaning prevalence dropped below 1 case per 10,000 population), even though new cases still occur. This shows the importance of precise terminology.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question: 'disease', 'eradicated', and 'India'.
The term 'eradicated' is absolute; it means the permanent reduction to zero of the disease in the country.
Recall major national health programs and their status. Think about which diseases are still prevalent versus those that have been successfully conquered.
Evaluate each option: Is Tuberculosis still a problem? Yes. Is Malaria? Yes. Is AIDS? Yes.
Recall the massive public health campaign for Polio (Pulse Polio). This was a high-profile effort that led to a widely publicized success, making it the most likely candidate for eradication.
Confirming that Polio is the only disease on the list that has been declared eradicated from India leads to the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 276-535 of 550) p. 26-535