Polio: Help Finish The Fight!

India, a country once known as the world's epicenter of Polio was taken off the Polio endemic list by the World health organization in 2012 (after being Polio free for over a year). Since then, there have been only 3 countries left on the polio endemic list. They are Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. This record however changed when a 32-month-old girl living in the Banaadir region near Mogadishu was recently paralyzed by the wild polio virus, as announced by the World Health Organization on 11th of May. This is Somalia’s first case caused by wild polio virus since March 2007. Genetic new testing suggests that the polio virus in Somalia is linked to viruses circulating in Northern Nigeria, according to a WHO representative.

What will it take to ensure that every little boy who wants to play football can do so? What will it take to ensure that that little girl can help mum in the kitchen without getting tired of standing? What will it take to rid the world of Polio?

Poliomyelitis or Polio infantile paralysis is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person. It is one of the most dreaded childhood diseases and has crippled thousands of people.
Spinal polio is the most common form and results from viral invasion of the motor neurons in the spinal column, which are responsible for movement of the muscles, including those of the trunk, limbs, and the intercostal muscles. Virus invasion causes inflammation of the nerve cells, leading to damage or destruction of motor neuron ganglia. When spinal neurons die, Wallerian degeneration takes place, leading to weakness of those muscles formerly innervated by the now-dead neurons. With the destruction of nerve cells, the muscles no longer receive signals from the brain or spinal cord; without nerve stimulation, the muscles atrophy, becoming weak, floppy and poorly controlled, and finally completely paralyzed. The virus may affect muscles on both sides of the body, but more often the paralysis is asymmetrical. Any limb or combination of limbs may be affected—one leg, one arm, or both legs and both arms. 

Polio is very contagious. When a person is infected with the poliovirus, the virus resides in the intestinal tract and mucus in the nose and throat. The spread of poliovirus can happen in one of several ways, which include:

- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with poliovirus. Poliovirus is commonly found in sewage water.
- Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with poliovirus, and then placing the contaminated hand in the mouth.
- Sharing foods or eating utensils with someone infected with poliovirus.

Polio mainly affects children under the age of 5, the same age bracket in which it can be prevented. There is no cure for the disease but it is 100% preventable.

The eradication of Polio should be the utmost priority of not only governments but especially individuals.

The End of Polio is in sight and YOU can help. Hey, even the Taliban in Afghanistan is backing Polio vaccination.
- Get your child under 5 immunised immediately
- Make a habit of asking everyone you know or see with a child under 5 if they have immunized the child, if they have not,ask them to do so
- Get the facts about polio and spread the word via your social networks
- Tell your polio story to local news media.
- Take part in the worlds biggest commercial (Find out how HERE)
- Fund the fight. Donate HERE
- Do you know a state Governor, a Commissioner of Health, a Local Government  Chairman, or any Government official? Engage them on and ask them to support routine immunization in your local health center and hospitals. 
The fight to end Polio has been spearheaded by the hard work of organizations like Rotary International, Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, WHO,UNICEF as well as millions of volunteers, health workers, community leaders, and governments.

Your voice is a powerful tool, USE IT. Your advocacy efforts can help to ensure no child will ever suffer from this disabling but totally preventable disease again.