Polio is far from ‘history’ for us, Tánaiste

Following Eamonn Gilmore’s meeting with Bill Gates, the Tánaiste was reported as saying “Ireland is very much involved in making polio history”.

Polio is certainly not ‘history’ for its 7,000 survivors living on this island. Post Polio Support Group (PPSG) represents those whose lives have been blighted by this devastating disease. It’s not a childhood infection like the measles – it carries with it lifelong disability. Of the 7,000 survivors living in Ireland, 4,000 can expect to be diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome. PPS is a chronic neurological disorder resulting in muscle and joint pain, increased muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, breathing problems and sleep apnoea.

PPSG works to maintain the independence and dignity of polio survivors supporting them at home, at work and in all other aspects of their lives. We call on Mr Gilmore to accede to our request, made on several occasions, to make a medical card available to all of our members to ensure that, at the very least, they can avail of the medical attention they so badly need. Most survivors are 55 or older; our oldest member is 96 (born in 1916, the HSE recently revoked her medical card). Polio survivors are clearly an invisible group in Irish society. They must not be consigned to history and should be supported while they are still alive and provided with the State support that is their natural right.