Children are the target
19 October 2007
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| PolioPlus |
POLIO is an infectious disease caused by the polio virus which can strike at any age, but typically affects children under three.
The virus is passed through poor or careless hygiene, entering the body through the mouth, then multiplying inside the throat and the intestines. Once established, the polio virus can enter the bloodstream and invade the central nervous system, spreading along nerve fibers.
As it multiplies, the virus destroys the motor neurons that activate muscles. The nerve cells cannot be regenerated and the affected muscles no longer function. Polio paralysis is almost always irreversible.
In the most severe cases, polio virus attacks the motor neurons of the brain stem, resulting in difficulty breathing and can result in death. Most children and adults infected with the polio virus suffer only symptoms of a fever; only one per cent of polio cases result in paralysis
What is an NID?
National Immunization Days aim to interrupt the circulation of the wild polio virus by immunizing every child in the highest-risk age group (normally under the age of five) quickly and effectively by flooding a country with the oral polio vaccine. In countries where polio is endemic, this usually involves organising two rounds of National Immunization Days a year - one month apart - for a period of at least three years. The aim is to catch children who are non-immunized, or only partially protected, and boost the immunity of children already immunized. This way, every child in the most susceptible age group is protected against polio at the same time - instantly depriving the virus of the fertile seedbed to thrive.
What is the "Plus" in PolioPlus?
The "Plus" in PolioPlus has evolved over time. Today it refers to the global polio eradication legacy that can be applied to future health initiatives. Lessons learned from this historic 20 year-drive include:
* Massive public education initiatives to promote immunization activities;
* Vaccine deployment strategies to reach children in remote or isolated regions;
* Using proper tools such as vaccine carriers to protect vaccine in harsh temperatures and specimen containers to preserve the integrity of samples;
* Forming public-private partnerships that fortify national governments' health programmes;
* A strengthened worldwide laboratory network will continue to support disease surveillance efforts long after polio has been eradicated;
*Most importantly, the global polio eradication programme has paved the way for cease-fire truce agreements in a number of warring nations, negotiating major humanitarian assistance in fragile environments.
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