World Polio Day 2019: Know why 'do boond zindagi key' makes a difference for infant's life!

'Do boond Zindagi Key', is all we have kept learning since our childhood aligning to the highly infectious disease which is not as much life threatening as it is crippling, polio! While there is no cure for polio; which makes prevention all the more important, 24th of October worldwide marks to be the only day making people buzz about the disease more. Here is a leaflet to know why the globe in unison celebrates World Polio Day today.

 

Also known as ‘Poliomyelitis’ in medical terms, polio is a disease caused by the deadly ‘Poliovirus’ usually affecting children under 5 years of age, for this reason it is also known as ‘Infantile Paralysis’. The virus mainly affects nervous system, leaving the person with a weak crippled leg and unable to walk normally throughout his life.

 

The Day forth is celebrated with only one prime objective, that is to completely eradicate polio from all the parts of the world, making the world ‘Polio Free’. The occasion also commemorates the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the team for developing first vaccine for Poliomyelitis, along with commemorating the efforts of millions of dedicated employees and volunteers of the organizations committed to the cause.

 

The main purpose of tis day lies in ensuring vaccination of the last child belonging to the most marginalized section of the society. Though the disease is eradicated from most of the countries, it still affects some of the most marginalized sections and poorest people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.

 

In spite of the success, if the civilization fails to completely eradicate this highly infectious disease, there is a good possibility of it reappearing in the coming decades. The day also provides a platform to the organizations to raise necessary funds for the programs as it requires billion of dollars to successfully vaccinate every child in the world.

 

The World Polio Day was initiated by the Rotary Foundation nearly a decade ago with an aim of complete eradication of Polio virus from all the parts of the world. Couple of years ago, the Rotary International and the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation together committed to raise 450 billion dollars for eradicating polio globally.

 

With a huge and dedicated force of employees, volunteers and local public and administration, oral vaccination is provided to every infant, making a step towards ‘Complete Eradication of Polio’.