Polio survivors encouraged to tell their stories

ST. LOUIS, MO — In an effort to spread understanding of polio’s long-term effects, Post-Polio Health International (PHI) urges all polio survivors and post-polio support organizations to tell their personal stories at local Rotary Club meetings.

Polio Survivors and Associates, a Rotary Action Group made up of individual polio survivors and Rotarians with a special interest in polio, is asking clubs to tell the stories in their own communities through the experiences of their own community survivors.

“Our goal is to offer Rotarians a better understanding of the long-term aftereffects of having had polio as well as the initial effect,” said Joan L. Headley, executive director of PHI. “Rotary International’s commitment to eradicating the poliovirus from the world is unyielding. PHI and the extensive post-polio network carry on from there, assisting those for whom the vaccine was too late.”

Experts are concerned about the recent cases of polio in Nigeria, India and Pakistan and the effects of conflict on the vaccine campaigns.

“Polio is a distant memory for many, but we need to remind everyone that it has never been eradicated in some parts of the world and that contributions of manpower and funds can help finish that job and turn our focus to rehabilitation,” stated Headley.

PHI’s Web site is http://www.post-polio.org.