Polio survivor advocates for recognition of post-polio syndrome

ARTSCAPE CEO, Marlene le Roux is making her voice heard bringing a much-needed spotlight to the challenges facing post-polio sufferers worldwide.

- THEOLIN TEMBO

March 26 is recognised worldwide by post-polio sufferers as the day when the ground-breaking research of American virologist Dr Jonas Salk (1914-1995) announced his vaccine against the deadly disease in 1953.

Polio is a highly infectious disease that attacks the nervous system and can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis, and in some cases death, mostly affecting young children.

Le Roux contracted polio in 1967, at least three months old.

She said her story is like so many others – the majority of whom are found in Africa – is “a testament of the lack of care and empathy experienced by mothers and families who were disadvantaged by a racist political system”.

“Whereas millions of polio sufferers have been fortunate to receive the polio vaccine Dr Salk and were healed since that day, many others, including myself, were denied access to this life-changing treatment in their childhood.

“In my case, the local doctor who was white did not administer polio drops to me that could have spared me the lifelong consequences that I am still battling with to this day, a daily reality for polio survivors: deformed limbs need braces, crutches, or wheelchairs. To add insult to injury, these assistive devices are very costly just to be mobile,” she said.