|
By
Proclamation, the week of June 2, 2003 is declared Polio Awareness Week. On
June 4, between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, there will be a public gathering in the
Hall of Flags at the Capitol in Augusta. Governor John Baldacci is planning
to attend. People will have the opportunity to hear about polio and its
after-affects.
Poliomyelitis, a
world-wide crippler and killer since ancient Egypt, continues to affect the
lives of hundreds of Maine people. Thanks to the polio vaccine, the current
generations of children and young adults are protected from this disease and
people think polio is gone. However, the ravages of polio and its later
affects are not gone.
Polio Awareness
Week is to help inform people that polio is still around. It is important
that parents continue to have their children vaccinated against polio.
Polio is still present in many third-world countries, and with the ease of
transportation in the world, anyone may be exposed.
Polio is still
around in another way, too. The people in Maine who survived this dreaded
illness decades ago, are now living with lifelong after-affects. As many as
half of these survivors are experiencing post-polio syndrome (PPS). In PPS,
it is generally believed that the breakdown of nerve pathways causes further
loss of muscle function, which typically begins 15 or more years after
recovery from acute polio. This may be characterized by new muscle weakness
that usually worsens gradually, muscle and joint pain, overwhelming fatigue,
sleeping problems, and even swallowing and breathing difficulties for some
people.
In 1986, a group of
polio survivors formed the Post Polio Support Group of Maine to help address
the need for information, outreach, and appropriate medical care. We have
annual statewide conferences, which bring in nationally known speakers, as
well as local experts and providers. We continue to educate and inform
medical professionals, the general public, and, most importantly, polio
survivors, through such ways as newsletters, our website
www.ppsgm.org support
groups, and brochures and articles.
Our population of
survivors has a history of employment and community service exceeding the
norms, but it still takes both courage and commitment to speak up about
polio. By helping people be aware of polio, whether through understanding
the initial affects or later problems, the Post Polio Support Group of Maine
strives for these goals:
-
To prevent
polio from attacking anyone ever again.
-
To stop the onset or halt the
progression of post-polio syndrome (PPS).
-
To save polio survivors from
life-threatening medical errors. Errors may result when health
professionals are not aware that routine treatments for others may have
adverse or opposite effects in polio survivors.
Through education, immunization, medical participation, research,
outreach and support, these goals can be achieved.
|