Polio register being rolled out in northwest, including Mayo

MOST people think of polio as long gone. While thankfully, with every child now vaccinated, this debilitating disease is eradicated in Ireland, however it is thought that around 7,000 people who had polio are still living with the impact of the original illness.

Polio Survivors Ireland is urging polio survivors throughout the northwest of the country to sign up to the polio register, to help find out how many are still here and to create strength in numbers.

“We are looking for people who contracted polio as babies or young children, to sign up to our national polio register, which is currently rolling out in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo,” says Fran Brennan, CEO, Polio Survivors Ireland. “With more evidence of the need for tailored supports and services for polio survivors, we can advocate and campaign for what is needed now and in the future.”

Before it was eradicated in the early 1960s, polio struck down many people in Ireland. The current pandemic brings back many memories for those who recall the widespread fear and panic of their childhood.

During the polio epidemics in the '40s and '50s, parents were urged to avoid crowded places and excessive exercise for their children and swimming pools and libraries were closed in an effort to curb this terrible disease that struck mostly babies and children.

Of those who contracted the disease, many were partially and some completely paralysed for life. Decades after, many survivors are now experiencing new symptoms, known as Late Effects of Polio or Post-Polio Syndrome, which often require medical advice and treatment.

The polio register was set up by Polio Survivors Ireland, the only support organisation for survivors in Ireland, to help create a clearer picture of the number of people affected. This will help the charity to advise statutory services of the supports needed for survivors.

Anyone who had polio, whether they require support now or not, should register to give a stronger voice to all polio survivors in Ireland.

Bridie McMahon, a polio survivor from Mayo, believes the register is essential to help ensure that survivors get the right support.

“Polio survivors have lived through epidemics and we’re now aging,” she says. “Thankfully we’ve survived polio but we now have to deal with the late effects of it. The needs don’t go away, we require continued support, in fact the needs can increase as we get older. Although we survived polio, because of the late effects, we still have to deal with other health problems caused by it. It is a great idea for all survivors to sign the register because even if someone doesn’t feel they need help now, at some point if they do, at least they can turn to Polio Survivors Ireland.”

Late Effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome can cause previously active survivors to lose mobility and to struggle with daily tasks, fatigue, pain, or to develop an extreme intolerance to cold.

To sign up to the register, see https://polio.ie/ or contact Polio Survivors Ireland on (01) 8898920, or email info@ppsg.ie.