Polio no longer exists in Rwanda for over last 25 years

As Rwandans are marking the 2018 World Polio Day, it’s revealed this dangerous disease no longer exists in Rwanda for over last 25 years.

In the ceremony held on this Wednesday in Huye District, Dr. Celse Rugamba representing World Health Organization (WHO) said Rwanda endeavored to fight against polio through vaccinating.

He adds that the global goal is to put an end to this viral infection that causes nerve injury and leads to partial or full paralysis by 2020.

“As yet, polio exists in only two countries around the world, namely Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Africa, Nigeria was the last country to have polio case in 2016. However, WHO proves there is no polio in any continent at least after three years when there is no single infection,” Dr. Rugamba says.

Since 2005, there were 350,000 infected people worldwide but as yet decreased up to 20 people, including 16 Afghans and four Pakistanis.

Despite zero polio cases in last 25 years, Dr. Rugamba underscores that Rwandans still suffer the effects of this disease.
“The research conducted in 2005, proved that among 30,000 physically disabled people, at least 6,000 (20%) got disabled due to polio disease,” The Dr. reveals.

Adeline Kabeja, who works at Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), incites all Rwandans to take all vaccines provided by the government of Rwanda, as the only sure  fire way to end polio.

She says the most affected countries are those in conflicts and wars, where it’s not easy to be vaccinated. Those include Somalia, Yemen, Syria, DRC, Pakistan, South Sudan and Afghanistan.

According to Dr. Anthoine Muyombano, who heads the Rotary Club International, Rwanda’s branch, the new vaccine brought in Rwanda in 2017 is thoroughly stronger than previous ones.

This vaccine is given to a baby at the time it’s born, after six weeks, 10 weeks, and then has to drink other drops and a syringe after 14 weeks. This is not only for polio but it’s also for other diseases.

Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease caused by the polio-virus. It causes loss of reflexes, severe muscle weakness, pain and others.

UM– USEKE.RW