Shannon Bourret
March 1, 2009
3:58 PM
Last Friday, an intense eight country campaign began to protect 53 million African kids from polio. Local authorities, religious leaders, social workers and volunteers all rallied together to promote vaccines against the disease that has killed and disabled children across West Africa for years. The plan in to target homes, schools, and health centers to publicize their goals though community groups and television and radio announcements. Benin, Burkina Faso, Cte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Togo, and Nigeria are the primary focus of the immunization drive. By March 30, they hope to have completed two rounds. The World Health Organization, Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEFs are all behind this cause. Nigeria alone is expected to receive about $38 million, while the other countries will get about $29 altogether. Four West Africa states consider polio endemic. Nigeria is definitely the major source of this disease with having 25 reported incidents already this year. In 2008, Nigeria had a reported 803 cases of polio while the rest of West Africa reported only 41 cases.
The more I read about polio the more I understand the danger of its effects. I have a family member who was infected with the disease as a child and I know the personal pain and agony it can cause. I think that I why I have a particular interest in these news stories about the rest of the world rallying together to fight the disease and promote vaccination. In addition, I plan on going to Africa next year, with one of my destinations being Benin. After reading this, I am more nervous about going there!! I am happy to see that so many organizations are coming together to try and rid the world of this disease once and for all!
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We are so lucky to be in a country where we live in relatively fear of this illness--a country where we are given shots as infants to protect us from this horrible disease...I am struck by how much I take for granted! There are so many problems and horrors that plague the world, and it is so admirable to see people with passion working to fight them. It makes me want to rally together with them to help their cause!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you sound like you have a passion and a heart for this sort of thing. I think so many Americans are uneducated and affraid of other countries or they feel what other countries go through is none of our concern. We need to realize that no matter what happens or where it happens we are all affected.
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