For the third time in history, The Lebanese Organization of Studies and
Trainings works with UNICEF in raising awareness for the Polio Virus in
children. This month, January and next month LOST will be going to 36 villages
in the Baalbek-Hermel Region door-to-door informing mothers about the symptoms
and irreversible side effects of Polio that affect children starting at birth.
This virus can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five. Polio is
water borne and is unpredictable and silent; symptoms include a mild fever,
headache, fatigue, and pain in limbs.
Although a direct study was never conducted on the quality of water in
Lebanon, studies have been conducted for the water in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine,
Iraq and Syria and the results showed the water contaminated with the
virus.
This awareness campaign is to prevent the children around the world from
being affected by this horrible disease that hits the nervous system and causes
paralysis in a matter of hours. One case of Polio can automatically become an
epidemic nationwide. It is the duty of LOST and UNICEF to spread the facts and convince
families to get their children vaccinated to protect them from the probability
of losing their life at a young age.
From January 25th to the 30th the first round of
vaccines will be given through the 36 villages and on the 22nd-27th
of February the second round will commence. It is necessary for children to
receive both doses of the vaccination in order for the vaccination to be
effective and for UNICEF and LOST to reach their goal of Polio elimination. The
vaccination will be available for free at various locations specified by UNICEF
for children up to five years old.
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