World Polio Day

Gisborne Post-Polio Support Group and family members are (standing from left) Joan Clayton, Valerie Hammond, Nan Trueman, Kath Thomas, Catherine Delahunty, Gordon Jackman, Edith Deedman, Alison Haisman, Nina James, Tina Smith, and (seated) Jill Hudson, Mate Nepe and Lyn Lovelock.

TODAY is World Polio Day, a time when Rotary and UNICEF — organisations that have long spearheaded the global effort to eliminate polio — remind us that the world is tantalisingly close to eradicating this preventable disease.

In 1988, when Rotary and its partners committed to eradicating the disease, polio was paralysing more than 350,000 children a year in 125 countries. Since then, the number of polio cases has been reduced by 99.9 percent with fewer than 50 cases this year.

In September 2015, the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria polio-free, leaving only two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, where wild polio virus is endemic.

Rotary’s chief role in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is fundraising, advocacy, awareness-raising and mobilising volunteers.

Through the “End Polio Now: Make History Today” campaign, every dollar Rotary contributes to polio eradication is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (see endpolio.org for more information).

Rotary and CCSRotary and CCS (Crippled Children Society)have played major roles in supporting polio survivors, changing attitudes to disability and helping eradicate the disease from most of the world.

“The heroic efforts of countless volunteers have helped relegate polio to the history books for most people,” says Jill.

Polio is believed to have affected humans for thousands of years but it was only in the 20th century that major epidemics occurred around the world. In New Zealand, six epidemics occurred between 1916 and 1956.

In 1913, American Rotary Clubs started organising help for crippled children and later, Rotary International urged all Rotary clubs worldwide to consider doing the same as a major community service effort.

Orthopaedic surgeon Alexander Gillies lobbied New Zealand Rotary Clubs to support crippled children and in 1935, Rotary launched the New Zealand Crippled Children Society (CCS).

By 1941, CCS was offering treatment, education and training to “every cripple or potential cripple”, not just those affected by polio. CCS has had a major role in helping improve opportunities for and attitudes towards disabled people in New Zealand.

In 1957, following the development of a vaccine in 1955, immunisation started in New Zealand. The last reported case due to wild polio virus was in 1962. There have been nine vaccine-related cases since then. However, in 2002 immunisation was switched to the inactivated polio vaccine which is not associated with vaccine-related infections.

Post-Polio SupportPost-polio support groups provide information to help members manage their condition. Polio NZ, established over 20 years ago, collects and distributes research and information for members and for medical practitioners, most of whom have no first-hand knowledge of polio these days.

The Gisborne Post-Polio Support Group was established in 1991 by polio survivor, Monica Sefton. The group still meets four times a year to help local polio survivors share information and experiences that help them manage their condition.

For polio survivors who may be experiencing new symptoms such as pain, weakness, fatigue, difficulties with swallowing, breathing or sleeping, there is information available that may be helpful to them and their doctors.