Insight into one woman’s dedication to eradicate polio

A Rotary exchange trip in 2000 has had a profound effect on Jenny Horton – she has since dedicated her life to the eradication of polio around the world. On Tuesday (7 July), Jenny will share her inspiring experiences working in developing regions including Botswana, Nigeria and Pakistan, at the Bundaberg Post Polio Support Group meeting, coordinated by the Spinal Injuries Association.

The meeting is open to the general public, for anyone interested in hearing her tales of how she has seen polio go from being a pandemic in some countries, to today having few reported cases.

“Since I began work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Rotary volunteer, I have seen a 99% decrease in the incidence of polio globally,” Jenny said.

She said global polio eradication was a Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), made up of a partnership between Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the governments of the world.

“To date it is the largest public health initiative ever undertaken to a cost of $6 billion. Currently, Rotarians worldwide are fundraising to match $200 Million donated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” Jenny said.

“There used to be around 350,000 reported polio cases worldwide per year, but the latest data in 2007 shows for that year there were 65,200 cases.”

Jenny divides her time between her Brisbane home and wherever her next contract with the WHO takes her.

She has recently returned from Bauchi in Nigeria, which has the highest incidence of polio in the world.

Her role with other PEI volunteers included speaking with the government about the religious issues involved in vaccination in the region; meeting with traditional village heads to discuss the acceptance of the polio vaccine; organising town criers to get the message out that residents could be vaccinated against polio and creating new initiatives to reach every child aged five or younger with vaccines.

Jenny’s life changing Rotary volunteer trip in 2000 was to India where she was able to participate in a National Polio Campaign and also work with making calipers for polio victims.

The badly deformed children that were begging in the streets because of their polio had a profound effect on her.

“That really resonated with me because I thought these children should not have polio. All of their pain and suffering could easily have been prevented with a simple vaccination,” Jenny said.

“Then I joined the Brisbane Post Polio Support Group and the members of the group further inspired me to dedicate my life to eradicating polio.”

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said even though polio had been eradicated in Australia, people who sustained the illness during the epidemic in the 1950s were now experiencing the late effects of polio – known as Post Polio Syndrome.

“Symptoms are varied but include muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, sleep and breathing difficulties,” Mr Henley said.

“Polio may be gone from this country for now, but it’s only a plane ride away. People need to remain vigilant about vaccinating against the disease.”