Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson keen to raise polio awareness

2:55pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News

PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson is joining Parliament’s bid to raise awareness of polio.

Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords will gather on October 22 to discuss combating the disease.

It was eradicated in the UK in the 1980s, but it is still endemic in some countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Mr Stephenson said it was important to support dedicated charities in their work across the developing world.

He said: “This kind of event is vital in raising awareness of polio.

“Even though it was eradicated in Britain 30 years ago, by attending events like these, I hope me and my colleagues can see what we can do to support organisations, such as Global Poverty Project UK, in the important work they do.”

“The human cost of polio is unacceptable, and by raising awareness we can combat the spread of the disease, and wipe it out all together.”

Polio was declared an emergency for global public health by the World Health Assembly in May this year.

Comments (3)

6:28pm Tue 25 Sep 12

woolywords says...

What would it cost us, as a country, to supply two drops of vaccine on a sugar lump, instead of building a monsterous nuclear submarine, that will never fire a weapon?
Somehow our priorities are a bit off skew.
What would it cost us, as a country, to supply two drops of vaccine on a sugar lump, instead of building a monsterous nuclear submarine, that will never fire a weapon? Somehow our priorities are a bit off skew. woolywords

3:08am Wed 26 Sep 12

Benjis mum says...

Is this another example, along with TB and HIV/aids, of the benefits and enrichment that mass immigration and multicultiralism from 3rd world countries brings to the western world.
Is this another example, along with TB and HIV/aids, of the benefits and enrichment that mass immigration and multicultiralism from 3rd world countries brings to the western world. Benjis mum

10:08am Wed 26 Sep 12

woolywords says...

Benjis mum wrote:
Is this another example, along with TB and HIV/aids, of the benefits and enrichment that mass immigration and multicultiralism from 3rd world countries brings to the western world.
I think that you have let some agenda, blind you to some rather pertinent facts here. The article wishes to raise peoples awareness of a disease that, for a few pennies, could be virtually eradicated entirely. It may be presumptuous of me to think this but I would have thought that you, as a parent, would have wanted to support this issue wholeheartedly, since it mainly afflicts children in a way that I find truly distressing.
It has nothing to do with the migration of people but to do with a virus that attacks irrespective of where you live in the World. Clean drinking water and proper sanitation have, for the most part, reduced the incidence of outbreaks since the beginning of the 20th Century. Coupled with mass vaccination programmes in the Western World, it has been been confined to areas that don't enjoy our lifestyles and comforts. Charitable organisations seek to educate and vaccinate in areas that see outbreaks occurring, no matter where they are.
Am capable of wishing many ills on those adults that spout hatred towards me but I will not sit idly by, as their children are either dead or crippled through something that is easily preventable.
A useless nuclear submarine costs £1.3Billion against less than 20p to prevent Polio. We wouldn't be seen as the great evil ones, if we had spent that money on well-water pumps, sanitation advice and vaccinating children.
[quote][p][bold]Benjis mum[/bold] wrote: Is this another example, along with TB and HIV/aids, of the benefits and enrichment that mass immigration and multicultiralism from 3rd world countries brings to the western world.[/p][/quote]I think that you have let some agenda, blind you to some rather pertinent facts here. The article wishes to raise peoples awareness of a disease that, for a few pennies, could be virtually eradicated entirely. It may be presumptuous of me to think this but I would have thought that you, as a parent, would have wanted to support this issue wholeheartedly, since it mainly afflicts children in a way that I find truly distressing. It has nothing to do with the migration of people but to do with a virus that attacks irrespective of where you live in the World. Clean drinking water and proper sanitation have, for the most part, reduced the incidence of outbreaks since the beginning of the 20th Century. Coupled with mass vaccination programmes in the Western World, it has been been confined to areas that don't enjoy our lifestyles and comforts. Charitable organisations seek to educate and vaccinate in areas that see outbreaks occurring, no matter where they are. Am capable of wishing many ills on those adults that spout hatred towards me but I will not sit idly by, as their children are either dead or crippled through something that is easily preventable. A useless nuclear submarine costs £1.3Billion against less than 20p to prevent Polio. We wouldn't be seen as the great evil ones, if we had spent that money on well-water pumps, sanitation advice and vaccinating children. woolywords

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