Gaborone — Botswana joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Polio Day today with the aim of raising awareness about polio and highlighting global efforts towards a polio-free world.
A press release from the Ministry of Health states that the day is also used to honour the tireless contributions of those on the frontlines of the fight against the eradication of polio from the face of the earth.
It also states that World Polio Day serves as a crucial reminder to nations across the world to remain watchful in preventing the resurgence of the disease within their borders. "World Polio Day is commemorated on the 24th of October every year. This year, the day is commemorated under the theme; Make Polio History," states the release.
This year's theme symbolises the global commitment to eradicating polio, reflecting on past progress, and rallying collective efforts to ensure that polio is no longer a threat to public health.
It is a reminder of the ongoing work to consign polio to the annals of history.
Furthermore, the theme also emphasises the collective effort required to achieve this goal and that it is not the work of one organisation or country, but a collaborative endeavour involving multiple stakeholders, governments, healthcare workers, and communities.
"Polio is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the poliovirus. It presents with sudden weakness or paralysis of the arm(s) and or leg(s). Polio is spread when a person eats food or drinks water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person," the release states.
The release also states that the disease is most likely to spread in areas where there is poor sanitation and it can affect people of all ages, but it is most common in children under the age of five.
The Ministry of Health therefore, urges parents and caregivers to ensure that all children aged five years and below are vaccinated against polio. Additionally, hand washing before handling food or feeding children is highly encouraged, thus the ministry advises everyone to wash their hands after using the toilet.
BOPA
