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Translators Without Borders

The work of Translators without Borders is of crucial importance for the success of humanitarian projects. Information available in the local language is much more effective than in a foreign language. This is true for engineering and construction projects (such as digging water wells), and agricultural projects (such as how to irrigate the land). But it is particularly important in healthcare. In many areas in the world people do not only die from diseases, but also from the fact that they do not have basic information about how to stay healthy and what to do to prevent disease.

If you are a translator and you are willing to donate your time and professional skills to Translators without Borders, you will directly support humanitarian projects. To join TWB, we ask you to fill in the translator application form.

Poliomyelitis - Polio

On January 13th 2012, the world reached a remarkable milestone in the fight to eradicate polio – 12 months without a single case of polio for the first time in India's history.

Help Celebrate a Milestone
- It's a remarkable achievement: and one that many thought would never be possible.

One step closer: The End of Polio

Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract. It is most often spread through person-to-person contact with the stool of an infected person and may also be spread through oral/nasal secretions. Polio used to be very common and caused severe illness in thousands of people each year before polio vaccine was introduced in 1955. Most people infected with the polio virus have no symptoms; however, for the less than 1% who develop paralysis it may result in permanent disability and even death.

There are two types of vaccine that protect against polio: inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV). IPV is given as an injection in the leg or arm, depending on patient's age. Polio vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Most people should get polio vaccine when they are children. Children get 4 doses of IPV, at these ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and booster dose at 4-6 years.

You can start by learning the basics about this devastating disease

Facts About Polio Disease

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus that invades the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis.

There are three serotypes of poliovirus (1, 2, and 3). Immunity to one serotype does not protect against the other serotypes.

Wild poliovirus type 2 has been eradicated and cases of type 3 fell 92 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Polio affects children mainly below the age of five, but immune and partially immune adults can still be affected by the disease.

Although the most visible sign of polio is paralysis; only one percent of the effects of the disease is likely to be paralysis.

Polio has no symptoms and can spread widely before paralysis is visible. Those affected by polio are often not aware that they have the disease.

It is passed through person to person contact.

The disease has been eliminated in most countries in the world.

There is no treatment for polio. However, the disease can be prevented through vaccination and simple health interventions.

The world stands on the brink of eradicating polio - a debilitating disease that pulls vulnerable individuals deeper into poverty. Over 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated since 1988 and the number of polio cases per year is down by 99 percent.

Global collaboration over three decades has reduced cases by 99% - bringing the end within reach. But crucial vaccination work is being constrained by a global funding gap, threatening the prospect of eradication.

Polio vaccines

There are two types of vaccines against polio—oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) delivered via injection.

OPV contains an attenuated (weakened) virus that can mutate into vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDVP) that can circulate and cause polio infections in a community.

VDPVs will continue unless global community makes the transition to IPV after wild poliovirus is eradicated.

OPV can also result in vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP), although this is rare, occurring once for every 2.7 million first doses of the vaccine.

Most wealthy countries use IPV, but because the current price (>$3/dose) is out of reach for low- and middle-income countries, they rely on OPV ($.13 -.17/dose).

To complete eradication and to ensure protection post-eradication, new tools are needed:

Lower cost OPV for maintaining population immunity, for stamping out pockets of endemic wild poliovirus transmission, and for controlling outbreaks.

Much more affordable IPV to contain and end VDPVs and sustain population immunity post eradication.

Affordable IPV-containing pediatric combination vaccines for future birth cohorts in low-income countries.

Progress

The global fight against polio represents one of the greatest achievements in global health in recent decades. It has mobilized millions of volunteers, staged mass immunization campaigns, and helped strengthen the health systems of low-income countries. Today, polio eradication is within reach.

Now the cost of a vaccine is just 13 cents a dose. "When doing good is that easy and that inexpensive, doing nothing is really inexcusable." - Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Cases of polio have plummeted since 1988

Globe and Mail - Published Monday, Oct. 24, 2011

Communication

Effective communication can increase community participation, build trust and help persuade parents to vaccinate their children against polio. The PolioInfo website and database present communication data collected, analyzed and applied in country to help strengthen community support and commitment towards the goal of Global Polio Eradication.

UNICEF is responsible for polio communications under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.