By Joke Kujenya
FEAR ONCE followed the sound of a child, Uzodinma Peters, 7, struggling to walk as members of her parents’ families watched polio leave permanent scars on her young life.
“It has not been easy,” said the mother to JKNewsMedia.com.
“For six out of her seven years of life, this disease has maimed my child just as it has paralysed hundreds of thousands of children every year.”
The woman, a civil servant, said, “have you noticed how it is moving swiftly across borders and striking without warning.”
Her eyes, wearied from exhaustion of taking care of her daughter amid the struggles cut the picture that has changed and altered many children’s lives dramatically.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in its latest release note that global vaccination efforts have reduced polio cases by 99.9% since 1988, pushing the disease to the edge of eradication. Then, it adds, yet the fight is not over.
The agency said the virus still spreads easily and remains a threat for as long as it exists anywhere in the world.
It adds that with only a few cases left in two countries, attention has turned to the final steps needed to bring the disease to a permanent end.
In an episode of ‘Science in 5′, Dr Jamal Ahmad spoke about why polio eradication still matters and how close the world truly is to ending the disease forever.
He also spoke about what could be lost if global commitment weakens now.
Ahmad further noted that the tools, knowledge and partnerships needed to stop polio are stronger than ever but stressed that sustained political commitment and global cooperation remain essential to reach the finish line.
“Ending polio would mean no child is ever paralysed by the disease again and would save billions for health systems worldwide,” Ahmad stressed.
He said the programme is calling on families to ensure vaccinations are up to date and as well urged governments to continue supporting eradication efforts and encourage public involvement through partners such as Rotary.
In Ahmad’s view, the message remains that eradication is all or nothing and that the world stands closer than ever to closing one of the longest and most difficult chapters in global public health.
