Polio survivor fights on vaccination front
PHOTO: AFP
Ayesha Ali Raza, 30, is doing her best to convince parents to give polio drops to their kids to protect them from the ailment that has afflicted her for life.
The resident of Ghaziabad in Lahore was infected by poliovirus at the age of two years due to missing vaccination as a result of the negligence or ignorance of her parents. She now advises the parents not make the mistake, warning of its impact on the life of their children.
The UNICEF is struggling hard to eradicate poliovirus from the country through special vaccination campaigns but concerns regarding Punjab increased this year when five environmental samples tested positive.
Three of the samples had been collected from Lahore and two from Rawalpindi.
After the virus detection, special campaigns have been planned in the province, in which thousands of lady health workers and supervisor are administering polio vaccine drops to children at their doorsteps.
The polio survivor is also part of the mission to convince parents about the importance of polio vaccination despite facing hurdles, including unkind comments of people.
Raza told The Express Tribune that she ignored people’s attitude and continued her work that she deemed a mission.
She said her dream is that Punjab should be declared polio-free as she had suffered because of the disease.
She shared her difficulties during her schooling and said that in most cases the parents’ ignorance was the reason polio affecting their children.
“I found myself a polio patient when grew up and I was told by my family that I was two years old when my leg was affected. I would not complain to my parents regarding their ignorance as at that time there was not much awareness about the virus.
In fact, they made their best efforts during my treatment and the credit go to them as today I am a polio survivor. In 2015, I married a man who was impressed over my courage and struggle,” she said.
“When I got admission to school, I experienced how dangerous this disease is as I remember how much I suffered during my schooling because walking with a schoolbag was difficult for a polio survivor. Besides this the attitude of other people was also painful for me as I listened to hooting and jokes of schoolmates and other people,” she said.
“I was in school when I started dreaming to do my best to eradicate this disease. In pursuance of my dream, I joined the health service in sanitary patrolling,” she added.
Raza said she had been a part of the health teams striving to eradicate polio under the supervision of UNICEF for the past several years.
“Being a polio worker and survivor, my job is tough as my responsibilities take me through the streets of my locality. I went to every doorstep during vaccination campaigns. Sometimes I walked in dirty streets across pooled water in the localities as I could not accept even a single child left without polio drops during every campaign,” she said.
The health wormer said she had persuaded a large number of parents not willing to give polio drops to their kids to change their mind.
“It sometimes takes hours to convince the parents but it is a matter of concern that there are parents who are not aware about the dangers of polio. There have been hundreds of cases of vaccine refusal in Lahore and I strive to persuade the parents concerned,” she said.
“In many cases, when I narrated to them my own story and the consequences of their refusal, they started allowing the vaccination of their children. I appreciate the efforts of UNICEF in spreading awareness. I have witnessed many parents themselves contacting then teams to vaccinate their children during the campaigns,” she added.
“However, my difficulties increase when people hide their kids at home to avoid polio drops. Still I argue with them to protect the health of their children. I want to give a message to all parents that they should learn a lesson from my example and secure the life of their children,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2023.