So close and yet so far from being a polio-free world.
IN SPITE of valiant efforts to stand in the track of poliomyelitis (polio), the world might not be seeing the back of the dreaded disease anytime soon. That's because epidemiologists attached to the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) Global Polio Eradication Initiative are expressing alarm at an upsurge in cases of the crippling condition in west and central Africa.
They have issued a communique indicating that these parts of Africa are on the brink of the largest polio epidemic in recent years, even after the continent had almost eradicated the disease.
The case of a child in the Darfur region of Sudan, paralysed by polio, was confirmed last week, though that country has not seen the disease in more than three years. Epidemiologists have also noted that so far this year, five times as many children have been paralysed by polio in west and central Africa when compared to the same period last year. According to the WHO, data from Nigeria indicate that 197 children have been paralysed in Nigeria, following the suspension of polio immunisation campaigns late last year.
The World Health Organisation quoted its representative for Polio Eradication, Dr. David Heymann, as saying that there is no question that the polio virus is spreading at an alarming pace in Africa. Africa, he stated, now accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the global polio burden with 10 previously polio-free (African) countries now reporting cases of paralysis in children.
The polio virus hits especially children, infecting the gastrointestinal tract and nasopharynx, progressing to paralysis after infecting the central nervous system, especially the spinal cord. The crippling virus has disabled nearly 20 million people living today. Special global initiatives had seen the worldwide case load of polio paralysis declining from 350,000 in 1988 to just under 2,000 cases in 2002; and polio-infected countries declining from 125 to seven.
The last indigenous polio case was reported among member states of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in 1982 and in 1994 the Americas was certified polio-free. The Western Pacific region (including China) was certified poliofree in 2000 followed by the European region in June 2002. However, even though region has been declared polio-free, and even under the expanded programme on immunisation, Jamaica has not yet achieved 100 per cent immunisation coverage for vaccine-preventable diseases including polio, leaving a reservoir of vulnerable persons in the population.
LOW COVERAGE
In March, a local expert indicated that the expected coverage in 2003 was 100 per cent for the common infectious diseases among the target population of children. However, in many areas the coverage had fallen below 80 per cent.
Nationally, immunisation coverage for OPV (the vaccine against poliomyelitis) 80.5 per cent; BCG (the vaccine against tuberculosis) stands at 87.9 per cent; for DPT/DT (the vaccine against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) 81.4 per cent and MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 78.1 per cent. The United Nations report on the State of the World's Vaccines and Immunisation indicates that over the last 20 years, local coverage has grown and stands at levels comparable to those in developed countries. However, the concern is that the reservoir of children not being immunised can potentially put everyone at risk for polio and other infectious diseases.
The expanded programme on immunisation is, however, facing many local challenges, according to Health Ministry research, including reaching those at risk in inner-city and violence-prone areas; dispelling common myths about vaccination; breaking down barriers with some religious and alternative medicine groups; and inadequate funding for training and regular outreach sessions.
