Aid in Action

USAID and the United States Naval Ship Mercy: Train Local Health Providers in Polio rehabilitation therapies

Kupang | Monday, September 25, 2006

Faizah was five years old when she was attacked by polio, just a few days before her parents enrolled her in the first grade.  Even after receiving treatment from local hospitals, her condition did not improve enough for her parents to allow her to go to school.

During a four-day visit to the US Naval Ship Mercy, Pak Subakri, Faizah’s father, was coached on what he could do at home to improve Faizah’s condition.  “I give my greatest thanks,” said Pak Subakri. “I feel more motivated, and confident that Faizah’s condition will improve enough for her to resume her schooling.”

Polio was so close to being globally eradicated that many were shocked when the disease re-emerged. After having been polio-free for a decade, in 2005 Indonesia recorded its largest polio epidemic ever. East Java, where Faizah is from, represented one in eight of the 353 polio infections detected in 2005. Indonesia – supported by a range of donors, including USAID –  has since executed five national immunization days, mobilizing more than 750,000 health workers to immunize 24 million children against polio. The effort seems to be paying off: only two polio cases have been detected in 2006.

Still, helping children paralyzed by polio remains a challenge. The Mercy ship training, supported by USAID’s Health Services Project, included providers from the East Java Health Office. “This has been a great learning opportunity for me,” commented Dr. Kobal Sangaji of the Dr. Sutomo provincial hospital. “Having learned new physiotherapy exercises for children, I am motivated to support local health workers to rehabilitate children affected by polio.”

If  Faizah is any example, they will.  “The treatment was fun,” said the six-year old, “and I can’t wait to get better – and to start school!”