ERADICATE POLIO پولیو کو مٹائیں

Transcription

1 ERADICATE POLIO پولیو کو مٹائیں PEOPLES PRIMARY HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA/FATA عوامی پروگرام برائے بنیادی صحت صوبہ خیبر پختونخوا / فاٹا 1

2 Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLIO AND CAMPAIGNS... 3 INTRODUCTION:... 3 What is Polio?... 3 What are symptoms of Polio?... 3 What is Eradication?... 4 How can we stop Polio Transmission?... 4 How many doses are required to develop 100 % immunity?... 4 Does polio drops cause infertility?... 4 Is oral polio vaccine halal?... 4 WORLDWIDE FIGHT AGAINST POLIO... 5 Why is so much focus placed on polio, but not on other diseases?

3 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLIO AND CAMPAIGNS INTRODUCTION: To eradicate the menace of polio and to have a polio free Pakistan, Health Departments of all provinces with the assistance of government administrative machinery at all levels, social sector departments, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other donor agencies have redoubled their efforts in polio campaigns and off-campaign days. Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiatives (PPHI) being the flag bearer of revamping Primary Healthcare System in Pakistan has left no stone unturned to assist Health Departments in the cause of polio eradication. The purpose of this pamphlet is to provide simple and basic information about Polio to the general public not at the cost of repetition of such information & data disseminated by other organizations but to add its own share for creation of better awareness level against this disease. What is Polio? Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by the polio virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause paralysis or even death in a matter of hours. This virus:- lives in the throat and intestinal tract is spread through contaminated food or water can cause life-long paralysis or even death can strike at any age, but affects mainly children under five has no cure but is preventable by vaccination What are symptoms of Polio? Initial symptoms of polio are: Fever Fatigue Headache Vomiting Stiffness in the neck Pain in the limbs. 3

4 What is Eradication? Eradication means completely wiping out Polio Virus from the whole country and world. Once this objective of polio eradication is achieved then no further vaccination against this disease will be required. Polio vaccination is done for stopping polio transmission and increasing immunity level of children against the attack of polio virus. Polio virus attacks only human beings and once all human beings are immunized against Polio virus then Polio can completely be eradicated from the face of earth. How can we stop Polio Transmission? Polio transmission can only be stopped if every child under 5 years of age receives two drops of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in every campaign. However, improvement of nutrition, sanitation and inculcating the habit of washing hands are also vital in stopping polio transmission. How many doses are required to develop 100 % immunity? 07 to 10 OPV doses are required to develop adequate immunity level against polio, however to declare it 100% is very difficult. Every extra dose of OPV means extra protection with no harmful effects to human body. Even some kids after receiving multiple doses of OPV can be infected with polio virus due to inability or less ability of their bodies to develop the required immunoglobins as a result of polio vaccination. Does polio drops cause infertility? Since it has been tried and tested worldwide for many decades there is no known link between OPV and infertility or impotence. It is internationally and nationally endorsed by doctors and governments worldwide including Saudi Arabia, and other Muslim countries. Is oral polio vaccine halal? Various muftis and religious Islamic institutions in Pakistan and across the world have endorsed OPV and vaccination against polio. Some of the prominent international institutions endorsing OPV include Dar al Uloom Deo-Band, India; the Organization of the Islamic Conference; the International Union for Muslim Scholars (Mufti Dr. Yousuf al-qaradawi); Imam of Masjid Al Aqsa (Bait ul Muqades) and other prominent scholars and muftis from all sects in all provinces of Pakistan. All hajjis traveling for Haj are now required to be vaccinated against polio. 4

5 WORLDWIDE FIGHT AGAINST POLIO Since the inception of Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the incidence of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) worldwide due to polio virus has dropped down significantly. One can imagine the effectiveness of this program from the figures that only 20 years ago, almost 1000 children/day suffered paralysis due to polio virus while in 2010 this number dropped down to only 1349 in the whole year. Polio virus and its circulation was reduced only to 04 countries across the globe i.e. Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria. However, this landmark achievement in fight against polio can be consolidated only when polio virus circulation is stopped completely throughout the world. Polio virus can transmit to other polio free parts of the world also especially to those places where immunity level is low for a variety of reasons. It is an established fact that for every paralysis there are around 200 to 1000 children infected with polio virus without symptoms. Hence it is very hard to detect polio virus. The only protection against the virus is to eradicate it completely from the world. Why is so much focus placed on polio, but not on other diseases? Polio is one of only a few diseases which can be completely eradicated, such as was the case with smallpox. By eradicating polio, children across the entire world will benefit, and no child need ever again know the pain of polio-paralysis. Most diseases, such as HIV and malaria for example, cannot be eradicated, because the tools to eradicate these are not available. Polio does not have an intermediate host (i.e. it does not affect animals, and the virus cannot live in animals, in the way that malaria, for example, does in mosquitoes), a safe and effective vaccine is available to protect children from polio, it does not survive for extended periods of time in the environment, and while it is contagious, its infection period is relatively short. Polio eradication activities are also strengthening routine health services. Thanks to polio eradication activities, an active disease surveillance network has been established in all countries, into which other diseases including measles are now being integrated. Polio eradication infrastructures are also used for the provision of other health services such as deworming tablets, vitamin A and bed nets. 5