World Polio Day Mission “Zero Polio”
About Polio Day and Why It is celebrated •
World Polio Day was instituted by Rotary club over a decade ago, commemorating, birth of virologist Jonas Salk who developed the vaccine for Polio. • It is celebrated to spread awareness & recognize the efforts of organization like WHO & others, working towards eradicating polio. • Theme for this year for World Polio Day is “End polio now”. • The virus is contagious and spreads mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, through, a common vehicle (for instance. contaminated water or food) and the virus multiplies in the intestine, from where it can enter the nervous system and cause paralysis.
World Polio Day 2018
Symptoms of this Viral • • • • •
The initial symptoms of the virus are fever, headache, vomiting, fatigue, stiffness of the neck and also pain in the limbs. 1 out of 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (generally in the legs). Among those paralysed, 5% to 10% also die, if their breathing muscles, cannot function. Polio can definitely be prevented through immunization. The strategy to eradicate this deadly disease is preventing the infection by immunising each and every child until transmission is stopped and we can be assured of a polio-free World.
Countries where Polio Virus is still On • • • • •
Afghanistan Nigeria Pakistan Although, Polio cases have decreased by more than 99.9% since 1988. WHO expects the planet, to be polio-free 2022. It could take longer, considering the rate at which vaccine-derived polio cases are now springing up, it’s hard to say.
Polio and Disability Prevention Camps by DSS
Polio Camp by DSS Volunteers •
Dera Sacha Sauda is the organization who started campaigning and took initiatives to curb this hazard, way ahead of others, 2 decades ago. • DSS conducts surgeries, calibre distribution and offers follow up treatments, free, to the patients affected by the Polio virus already. • They Organizes “Polio and Disability Prevention Camps” in remembrance of its founding Father Shah Mastana Ji. • Treated and counselled close to 2500 patients and with 651 surgeries, till date, DSS is instrumental, in providing the confidence and awareness to people about Polio correction surgeries and providing them to the marginalised, at no cost.
Polio Camp by DSS Volunteers
Polio Prevention Camp in DSS Sirsa • • •
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Thus, helping a sizeable number of affected Patients, come back to their normal self and become self reliant. Many prominent Orthopaedic Doctors, provide their services, in these camps. Hundreds of patients, from all across the Country, visit the camps, held at Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa Ashram, under the direction and guidance by Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, for examination and free treatment. Free boarding, lodging and medicine with follow-up treatment is provided by the Ashram. Treatment includes surgeries, artificial limbs calliper, crutches, walking stick and special shoes, medicines etc. as per the respective case.