In February this year, India’s name was officially removed from the list of polio-endemic nations by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2011, the country has not reported a single case of polio. According to WHO, this is a huge achievement for a nation which, until 2009, made up for half or the polio cases reported across the world. While the presence of superstars such as Amitabh Bachchan as the campaign’s goodwill ambassador has majorly contributed a lot to polio awareness and benefits of vaccination, it is people like Sabiya Riyazuddin who have made all the difference to the cause.

Thanks to Aligarh resident Sabiya Riyazuddin’s efforts, the place is free of polio. Pic Courtesy/UNICEF India