Let's eradicate Polio 2

By Denrele Animashaun

The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity-George Bernard Shaw

I wrote about the emergence of Polio in my column on the 10th of February, 2013 in, LET'S ERADICATE POLIO. Six months on and it seems that Nigeria is nowhere forward in eradicating polio despite the ministry  of  health head’s boasting that Nigeria will be free of Polio by the end of the year.

For those who are not familiar with Polio, Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease caused by a virus that spreads from person to person invading the brain and spinal cord and causing paralysis. Polio (poliomyelitis) mainly affects children under five years of age.

Polio can spread from these endemic countries to infect children in other countries with less-than-adequate vaccination and one in 200 infected leads to irreversible paralysis.  So, amongst those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

Unfortunately, there is no cure; the most effective means to eradicate polio is to immunize every child to stop transmission and ultimately make the world polio free.

The last three countries where polio is thriving are Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Last year, India declared polio-free in February 2012 is perhaps, the best example of how a fully funded programme driven by committed leaders and dedicated workers to achieve success. If a country of billion plus can succeed then, Nigeria should be able to galvanize people power to the final push to see the end of polio. Our great challenge it seems a mistrust of the vaccines, insecurity, weak health systems and poor sanitation.

We also have  perpetuate  the  systems  that those  that are disabled  cannot partake in  everyday life  other than beg or do  some  vocational work  and  those  that  have  broken  the mould like the  successful  Nigerian paralympiads who  came  back with clutch full  of medals.  Even then, we can no longer consign polio victims to a life of penury and hopelessness. Most importantly, we have to prevent this life limiting disease affecting the next generation and beyond.

So  last  week in the  UK, I  watched a documentary by Ade Adepitan - paralympics medalist in basketball, tennis player, actor, TV show host, himself ,a polio survivor  went  to Nigeria  to cover the campaign to eradicate Polio in Nigeria. His documentary, JOURNEY OF MY LIFETIME, was poignant and heart wrenching that in this day and age, Nigeria remains behind poorer African countries who have successfully eradicated polio. Despite an initiative by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, there are pockets of resistance and new cases emerging.

I watched and listened to some of the Polio survivors   interviewed by Adepitan with disbelief that they believe polio vaccine is 'bad injection' or 'white medicine' that there is a conspiracy by the west to sterilize Muslim children.  None of these myths are true of course, and more disturbing as we now heard that  several medical workers have risked their lives in an attempt to complete one of the most ambitious health campaigns in history and recently, some of  the  workers were  brutally murdered while carrying out this vital work in the North of Nigeria. As a result all vaccinations have been currently suspended.

So, as long as a single child remains infected, then others are at risk in the region to spread new cases every year. So can we expect our ministry of health to make the extra effort to expedite the process and help eradicate polio?  What we need right now is a drastic change of mindset and education. Our children deserve better, our society and our country definitely can do without polio blighting the lives of the next generation.

The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu once described the resurgence of the deadly polio virus as an embarrassment to Nigeria and vowed that the government will intensify efforts to change the situation. No more talking let us act to make this happen.

Nigerians  Do Not Know What They Have

"One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others." -- Nelson Mandela

Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington and made a landmark speech calling for an end to racism in America.

His "I HAVE A DREAM" speech is regarded as one of the most important moments in 20th century history. One man's conviction and courage to look fear in the face touched millions and it continues to resonate till this day.

Fifty years on what has happen to the dream? The jury is still out. Some believe the dream is exactly what it is, a dream. With the likes of Trayvon, Roney King to name a few, many more blacks are in the penal system than any other race; discrimination and prejudice is rife despite having a black president.  This is  not to say  that many have not  made their  way  to the top of  the ladder, they have  but it  was a struggle.

Fifty years ago that, would have been a pipe dream not reality.

I believe Rev. Martin Luther King's dream was right for that moment when black people were living through segregation, penury and prejudice with no future.

Marcus Garvey put it so succinctly "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind."  So right Marcus Garvey, the change has to come from within not outside of self.

It is easy to lay the finger of blame on others for the state that we are in, but actually, as individuals, we need to have discipline and dignity; we have to rise above the obstacles. We can no longer play victims. In the UK, like in other places, race is treated with caution, trepidation and not discussed in depth. This is probably because people do not want being reminded of the past, they feel that they will be blamed in part or they feel defensive.  The problem is we continue to ply on thin layers of quick fix but not strong enough solution to lance the boil for good. Nothing is ever easy even the Martin Luther Kings' dream. It can only happen when we put our collective shoulders to the plough only then, can we begin to gleam our desired reality.

I am sure that we all can see the correlation between the race struggle in the US and other countries to our tribal/religious tension and our colonial past.  We are fortunate to have a place to call home, while others were taken from our shores and displaced all over the world.

Nigerians do not know what they have and I fear we don't lose it before we realize its worth. I often shudder when I hear Nigerians calling for separation, really, that is an easy way out because, the problem will remain until we address our issues. I know that some have often argued that Nigeria was better under the colonials and often wish they return.

I beg to differ. Fifty-three years on, it is about time we man up and sort out our land and our people. Nigeria is not made for one type of people; it is for all of us, all Nigerians. We all have to find ways to claw back our dignity, respect for one another, commitment and pride in our identity only and only then can we begin to deserve the land we call home.