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Continued from page 33–Mass Immunizations Returns as
Polio Attacks Again
Indeed as of February 6, 2009, Nigeria had reported 42
Polio cases since the year began, the highest in the world.
An estimated 801 Nigerians had Polio in 2008, still the
highest in the world.
Joseph Wamala explains that when you discover one
Polio case, it implies that there about 100-200 more. All
children that come into contact with this one case are at a
risk of catching the disease. That is what makes
immunisation so critical.
How it spreads
Polio is a viral disease which may affect the spinal cord,
causing muscle weakness and paralysis. It spreads
through the fecal-oral route. Poor disposal of fecal matter
may result in uninfected people carrying the virus on
them, say on their hands. Failure to wash hands well
results in introduction of the virus into the body through
the mouth where it could incubate for 3-35 days before it
manifests itself. The incubation period though is usually
between 7-14 days.
Symptoms depend on the type of Polio one has. There is
a type that causes no symptoms, though it is infectious.
The abortive type causes symptoms like fever, headache,
stiff neck and muscle pain. These two types of Polio do
not lead to paralysis, though when another person gets
infected by the same virus, they could get paralysed. The
third type of Polio is the paralytic type. 1-2% of those
infected get this type.
There is no cure for Polio but it can be prevented through
vaccination of children before they turn one. Four doses
are administered, with the first one being given at birth,
then at six weeks, 10 weeks and finally at 14 weeks.
However, when there is an outbreak, all children below
five are re-immunised.
According to Ministry of Health officials, another round
of immunsation will take place in Uganda from March
20- 23.
Children are more susceptible to catching Polio because
they have weaker immune systems. People suffering from
Polio can only be supported using painkillers,
physiotherapy, and use of wheelchairs when needed.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200903120729.html
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Uganda: Polio Blamed on
Juba Traders
30 March 2009
New Vision
Stella Naigino
-34- Traditional African Clinic April 2009
Kampala — UGANDAN traders operating in Juba and
Congo have been accused of bringing back polio into
the country.
"The disease is believed to have been brought into
Uganda by those who carry out business from Juba and
Congo. We have detected a case in northern Uganda,"
the World Health Organisation representative, Dr.
Joaquim Seweka, said.
"People affected by this disease are viewed as people
who cannot perform and many are left without
employment, which hinders the growth of a country
because funds are diverted to cater for polio victims,"
he said.
Seweka made the remarks during a polio immunisation
campaign launched by Kampala City Council at Kiswa
Health Centre.
The drive was funded by the Infectious Disease
Institution, the World Health Organisation and the
Government.
About 90% of children are expected to be immunised
against the disease.
The KCC environment and tourism city chief, Doreen
Naakatya, said all children in Kampala district would
be immunised against polio.
LC1 chairpersons, she said, had been urged to register
children below the age of five for immunisation.
Polio is a highly contagious illness spread through
contact with the faeces of an infected person.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200903310461.html
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Kenya: Millions of Children
Targeted in Stop-Polio
Campaign
25 March 2009
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
Nairobi — A five-day anti-polio campaign, targeting
more than two million children in 42 districts, has been
largely successful, officials said on 25 March, the last
day of the house-to-house immunization project.
"The response has been good and we are likely to reach
95 percent of the targeted children - those aged between
0 and 59 months," Josephine Odanga, the
health/emergency officer for the UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF Kenya), told IRIN on 25 March.
She said the campaign was an emergency response to a
Continued on page 35