ONE DAY: ONE FOCUS: ENDING POLIO 

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. Most know it as polio virus. The virus is spread from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine.

Cases due to wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases then, to 33 reported cases in 2018. (WHO)

Once polio is eradicated, the world can celebrate the delivery of a major global public good that will benefit all people equally, no matter where they live.

Get invovled this October by:

• Volunteering with the organisation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser
• Making a donation

For more information, visit: https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day andhttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis