Initiating Post-Polio India to improve rehabilitation of polio survivors

On December 21, 2024, I introduced the Post-Polio India support group to doctors, allied health professionals, polio survivors and their families at an information and networking event hosted by Dr Anil Kumar Jain, Head of Dr P K Sethi Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at  Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital in Jaipur (Rajasthan).

This event provided an opportunity to highlight the life-long consequences of polio and the often-overlooked need for medical care and rehabilitation of polio survivors. Many polio survivors are grappling with the debilitating effects of Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) and the Late Effects of Polio (LEoP), conditions that remain poorly understood and largely neglected.

Jaipur was a natural choice for launching this initiative. It was here that in 1967 I, along with several other children, contracted poliomyelitis. Throughout my growing up years, I was treated by Dr. P. K. Sethi and his team at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital.

Drawing on my lived experience with polio, my work as a science journalist covering PPS and LEoP, and the extensive research documented by organizations such as the British Polio Fellowship, Post-Polio Health International, and Polio Australia—leading advocates for polio survivors in developed countries—I shared practical insights on the importance of multidisciplinary care. A team comprising rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists, orthotists, and occupational therapists can play a crucial role in recognizing and treating PPS and LEoP, thereby providing much-needed support to survivors and their families.

Dr. Jain emphasised the importance of using properly fitted callipers (orthoses) early to prevent long-term deformities. He also highlighted the need to maintain bone health and prevent falls, as many polio survivors develop osteoporosis, increasing their risk of fractures from even minor injuries.

The event also featured inspiring testimonies from polio survivors — Dr Priya Marwah, a Paediatrician and head of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit for children suffering from Thalassemia Major at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital in Jaipur; Dr Anita Sharma, founder of Drive On My Own Foundation for people with disabilities; and Aditi Sharma, Prosecution Officer in the CID Crime branch — who spoke about their experiences and how they are overcoming the challenges to continue to excel in life.

I am hoping that this event will help foster collaboration among medical professionals, policymakers and the polio community to improve care and rehabilitation of polio survivors.

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