I don’t remember how I contracted polio because I was only one year old. When I started to understand my surroundings I realized I was different from others.

Growing up with a disability is a nightmare. I cannot engage in physical activities which makes me feel left out. The biggest problem I faced was in going to school. It used to take me a long time to walk and it was difficult to access public transport. When I went to college it was even more difficult because of the distance.

Having polio does not mean you cannot achieve, it means you have to try harder. Despite my disability I got myself through education and earned my Master’s. Now at 28, I have a prestigious job which keeps me confident and self-reliant.

We need to make everyone in the country realize the true benefit of the vaccine. We need to let them know that it’s criminal to deny their children the chance to grow up healthy.

The youth of today still need to be educated as to what polio is. I think we would be sadly mistaken if we think the vaccine is harmful; most nations of the world are free of polio simply because they accepted the vaccine.

Nighat Nasir
Personnel Relations Officer,Hamdard University
Karachi, Sindh Province