World Polio day
World Polio Day observed on every October 24th, raises awareness and supports the global fight against polio.
This day highlights the efforts made toward eradicating the debilitating diseases and garners attention to the currently ongoing fight needed to make this world polio-free.
The theme for World Polio Day 2024, “One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio,” underscores the global effort to eradicate the disease and highlights the significance of collective action in achieving this goal.
A Little Bit About Polio
Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects young kids and invades their nervous systems. This can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, and even worse - death in many cases. Polio spreads through contamination of water and food, but due to the advancements in medical science, it can be prevented with vaccines. There are proven records that global vaccination campaigns have reduced polio cases to a significant level. Polio now exists in just a few countries and continued efforts are important to eradicate it from the root.
The Origin of World Polio Day
World Polio Day was established to honor Jonas Salk, the scientist behind the first effective polio vaccine by Rotary International.
This breakthrough along with Albert Sabin's oral vaccine, played an important role in the worldwide fight against polio.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988 that resulted in a whooping 99% drop in polio cases across the planet. Since then, cases have decreased from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to just a few today.
World Polio Day brings people together to cherish this progress and discuss the actions we need to make to completely eradicate polio.
Role of Vaccination
The cornerstone of polio eradication is vaccination including OPVs (Oral Polio Vaccines) and IPVs (Inactivated Polio Vaccines) are largely used to immunize children against polio.
These campaigns are still actively run by governments and health organizations to ensure that every child is protected from this highly contagious virus.
How to Observe World Polio Day
On World Polio Day, people throughout the world and organizations are invited to participate in raising awareness and making efforts to eradicate polio.
You can treasure this day by educating others and spreading the word about the significance of eradicating polio and the impact of vaccines.
Come forward to support organizations like Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and Rotary International to encourage vaccination campaigns.
Share facts, stories, and resources to help inform others about polio and the efforts to eliminate it.
A polio-free world is within our grasp, but continued global cooperation and dedication are essential. By maintaining vaccination efforts, backing healthcare initiatives, and raising public awareness, we can make the dream of eradicating polio a reality.
World Polio Day is not only a celebration of progress but a reminder that, together, we have the power to end polio for good.
