October is Polio Awareness Month
March of Dimes Canada started as a group of mothers banding together to help fight polio, and each October we honour that legacy with Polio Awareness Month.
All month, we celebrate the success we've had in moving towards a world without polio, while still acknowledging the work yet to be done. We also celebrate the polio survivors who are part of the March of Dimes Canada. Through our polio support programs, we share information and resources to polio survivors, and try to shine a light on the post-polio syndrome that some of them live with.
"Our support group shares important information with one another, providing support for the similar health problems we're all experiencing. We help each other. We try to be active!"
Post-Polio program participant
This October, we encourage you to find out more about polio, post-polio syndrome, and our programs. You can also connect with us on social media for updates on what we're doing for polio survivors.
About Post-Polio
Many Canadians believe that polio is merely a part of Canadian history – a forgotten disease. But for the thousands of Canadians living with the virus’ late effects in the form of post-polio syndrome, polio is a very real part of their lives.
There are approximately 31,000 Canadian polio survivors. Our Post-Polio Canada® program, helps provide education and support to polio survivors, their loved ones, caregivers and healthcare professionals across the country.
Surviving polio can be a lifetime struggle - click here to hear a first hand account of what it's like. Produced in partnership with March of Dimes Canada.
GET TO KNOW POLIO!
Share the video, share the information, get to know polio, so we will have no polio!
Four things you probably didn't know about Polio:
- It is still present in the world today.
- It can lead to a devastating syndrome called Post-Polio Syndrome in later life.
- You'd be surprised how many Canadian survivors there are; Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Donald Sutherland, just to name a few!
- There are 31,000 Canadians living with the after effects of the disease today.
Click here to find out more about polio, including what is polio, how it is transmitted, what the symptoms are, and how to be protected from getting polio.
We will once again be using social media as part of our Polio Awareness Month efforts. We hope you can help us to spread the word and use the hashtag #KnowPolio. Please tag our social media accounts so that we can retweet, share and start the conversation. Together, we can let people know the lifelong consequences of polio and post-polio syndrome.
Post-Polio Canada is a program of March of Dimes. Since 1951, March of Dimes has worked to eradicate the threat of polio in Canada and provide support services to polio survivors.
Post-Polio Canada works with peer support groups nationwide to connect polio survivors. The program also provides education for those unfamiliar with polio and resources to caregivers helping those with post-polio syndrome.
Why join Post-Polio Canada?
Community
You are not alone. Post-Polio Canada peer support groups offer a local network of support to survivors, families, friends, and caregivers.
Connection
Join Post-Polio Canada today and automatically receive Post-Polio Canada’s bi-annual PoliO’Canada newsletter for free, featuring leading edge news on polio, information, resources and survivor stories.
Latest News
Post-Polio Canada is committed to reporting on new research about the long-term needs of polio survivors and their family members. In addition to distributing information, we also offer resources on our website, conduct seminars, host conferences and produce publications.
Conversation
Our Warmline connects you with staff and fellow polio survivors to listen, provide information and help you find whatever you may be looking for. Call the Warmline any time (non-emergency) at: 1-800-480-5903.
Join the Post-Polio Registry today! To join, please email your full name, full address, phone number and email address to polio@marchofdimes.ca. In your email please indicate whether or not you would like to receive an information package as well as the latest newsletter
Join the Post-Polio Registry today!
Post-Polio Canada
10 Overlea Blvd
Toronto, ON M4H 1A4
Charitable Registration No. 10788 3928 RR0001
Polio Canada® and Warmline® are registered trademarks of March of Dimes Canada.
Links
Polio Place - A Service of Post-Polio Health International