Welcome!
Welcome to Post-Polio India. It is my endeavour to connect, support and empower the hundreds and thousands of children and adults living with polio, their families and health professionals in India and beyond. It is also to draw the attention of governments in developing countries to invest in health care of ageing polio survivors.
Many adults, like myself, who contracted the disease as a child decades ago, are experiencing the debilitating Post-Polio Syndrome [PPS] or Late Effects of Polio, whereby they are facing muscle weakness, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, intolerance to cold, and difficulties in sleeping, breathing or swallowing. In the developed countries, the main advocates for those battling the new challenges of PPS have been grassroots groups of polio survivors.
Together, we can work towards enhancing the lives and independence of polio survivors by learning from each other’s experiences and adapting solutions to suit our own cultural and socio-economic needs.
Today there is prevention against polio, thanks to the global immunisation drives; lighter and more effective callipers or braces, electric scooters and power-operated wheelchairs, accessible public spaces and a stronger than ever worldwide campaign to globally eradicate polio, even as a cure remains a cherished dream.
Articles
“Late Effects of Polio” is an umbrella term which includes the onset or worsening of residual muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, severe fatigue, intolerance to cold temperatures and a range of biomechanical symptoms, such as osteoporosis and scoliosis, that occur usually 15 to 40 years after a person contracted the disease. Its subset, the Post-Polio Syndrome, is a diagnosable neurological condition. Its symptoms cross over with Late Effects of Polio and may also include loss of function and difficulties with sleeping, breathing and swallowing.
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Assistive Technology & Aids
A cure for polio is still a cherished dream. However, there is prevention, lighter and more effective calipers or braces, provision of self-propelled foldable and power-operated wheelchairs, electric scooters, ergonomical crutches, improved aids for use in the bathroom including grab rails and anti-slip mats, orthopaedic footwear, mobile ramps and accessible public places. If you are a provider of assistive technology and aids that can help people with disabilities, we would love to HEAR from you.
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Forum
If you are a polio survivor, a parent or family member of a polio survivor, a health professional treating polio patients, and you have a story to tell; an experience to share; an incident to narrate; an opinion to voice, we would be keen to hear from you. Please do reach out to us via the Post-Polio India support group on Facebook or connect via this FORM.
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