POLIO PEOPLE PROCLAIM 'WE'RE STILL HERE'

WE'RE STILL HERE campaign is a declaration by the world's polio survivors during the week of October 14 - 20. Not only do we still exist but we are a vital participating force in communities and families.

This campaign is launched by Post-Polio Health International (USA) to challenge many countries around the world, including NZ, to promote awareness of the significant polio population.

    * To educate about post polio issues.
    * To remind the general public of our successes and contributions.
    * To recruit and educate new health professionals to treat and care for polio survivors.
    * To support the world-wide polio virus eradication programmes by immunisation in NZ as well as internationally.
    * To urge Governments to assist polio survivors with appropriate funding.

The message of the WE'RE STILL HERE campaign is to communicate the needs of polio people world-wide, and to send a positive message of their abilities and capabilities.

People with polio contribute to society fully at every level: as scholars, teachers, writers, labourers, parents, grandparents, volunteers, civil positions and by being in key positions in many places of media, medical care, boards, education and government.

The goal for the WE'RE STILL HERE thrust is to send letters to the editor, to have interviews on radio and TV or internet blogs in every country and city and town.

WE'RE STILL HERE is the rally cry - the voice of polio survivors world-wide. We are blowing our own trumpet. If we don't, who else will.

Additional notes:

    * Twelve to twenty million polio survivors exist world-wide. (WHO 1995)
    * Up to one million polio survivors were estimated to be living in the United States in the 1994-1995.