Pilgrims visit Ghazi Baba’s Dargah as Their Children Get Polio Drops

This article states that despite a polio outbreak in 2002 and another in 2006, Muslim pilgrims return with requests and thanks to the tomb [mazar] of Ghazi Baba during a month-long fair [mela] in Bahraich, India. Estimates put the number of people coming to Bahraich during the fair at more than three million – a large number for a small district town with 200,000 population. As the town becomes a residential camp of makeshift tents and shelters surrounding the shrine (dargah), the management of the dargah show support for polio vaccinators, including many from the Muslim community, in their work to carry out the polio eradication programme.


Historically, there was an outbreak of 52 polio cases reported at this event in 2002. As a result, an intensive campaign is mounted yearly during the mela. It involves more than 25 two-person teams - entry gate teams, fixed booth teams, and mobile teams. Teams are increased on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, which are days of intensified activity. Nearly 150,000 children are vaccinated every year.


The endorsement of dargah management and religious authorities, including loudspeaker announcements, gives support that, according to vaccinators, helps parents understand the seriousness of the effort. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) supported the drive beginning with the planning stage and with information, education, and communication (IEC) material and social mobilisation support. As a result, Bahraich was polio-free from the 2002 outbreak until 2006, when another outbreak occurred.