Request First , Explanation Second
Friends, Family and Followers – I’d like to ask if you could do something important on Monday, October 24th, World Polio Day. The first is to watch this video by actor, Hugh Jackman talking about polio.
Then re-post or retweet the information below. Thank you for your support to END POLIO NOW.
And now the explanation: October 24th is World Polio Day and a time for each of us to take some action to move us closer to eradication of this dread disease. Not known in the United State for many years, I still meet people with relatives that had polio – some are still alive and in wheelchairs or with post polio syndrome. And in the rest of the world there are still four countries endemic with the wild polio virus and re-transmissions in several other countries. Until polio is wiped out forever all polio-free countries stand the chance of re-transmission. Also think about the astronomical health costs to remain polio-free.
So what can YOU do to help eradicate polio? Here’s a quick overview of what it is:
Polio is:
- A crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, polio (poliomyelitis) still strikes children mainly under the age of five in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
- Polio can cause paralysis and sometimes death. Because there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention. For as little as US$0.60 worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.
- It can cause paralysis within hours, and polio paralysis is almost always irreversible.
- In the most severe cases, polio attacks the motor neurons of the brain stem, causing breathing difficulty or even death.
- Historically, polio has been the world’s greatest cause of disability.
If polio isn’t eradicated, the world will continue to live under the threat of the disease. More than 10 million children will be paralyzed in the next 40 years if the world fails to capitalize on its US$5 billion global investment in eradication.
The wild poliovirus (types 1 and 3) is endemic in only four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Nigeria has maintained a 95 percent drop in polio cases in the past 24 months. There has only been one case of polio in India since the beginning of this year. Even though the number of cases in Pakistan has increased by 70 percent in 2011 compared to last year, only one case of type 3 polio has been reported.
Now let others know what you’ve learned about polio. Check out these websites for even more information: Gates Polio Challenge, Global Polio Initiative and the Global Poverty Project. I’ve signed the petition found on the Global Poverty Project’s site because I feel it is very important that ALL governments of the world take part financially in the eradication of polio. The four endemic countries are not only committed financially but also doing everything possible to get polio vaccine safely to all areas of their countries, even those in remote mountainous terrain.
If you can, support a Rotary club fundraiser where the money goes to polio eradication or go to Rotary International and give. Rotary International has a Four Star ranking at Charity Navigator.
Thank you.
A Noble Purpose 