Since the announcement of the polio outbreak last September 2019, a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur has been identified as the first confirmed polio case in the Philippines since 2001. We are putting a name, a face and a story to this 3-year-old girl, with permission from her mother Salma. This is their story.
When we visited 3-year-old Junaisa in her relative’s home in Lanao del Sur in the southern part of the Philippines, she was timid because she was having a fever. Despite her fever, Junaisa was well-behaved and quietly clung to a jar of snacks.
3-year-old Junaisa is the first confirmed polio case in the Philippines since 2001. Photo: WHO/F. Tanggol
Junaisa’s mother, Salma, tells us that the toddler is usually chatty when there are no visitors around. But the mother explained that Junaisa has gradually become frightened of people, especially those wearing white, ever since she was admitted to the hospital a few months back.
“Junaisa was healthy,” shared Salma. “She was full of energy when she was walking.”
The last time the 3-year-old was able to stand up and walk on her own was in June. She stood up, used the chamber pot and fell down. After that incident, the toddler was first admitted in a small hospital in Lanao del Sur, around 30 minutes away from their home. After three days, they brought Junaisa back home.
“I thought to myself, why is she not walking? So after two days at home, I admitted her to Amai Pakpak. We were there for 18 days,” explained Salma.
Amai Pakpak Medical Center is a government-run hospital in Marawi City, a few hours away from their house.
“A sample of her faeces was brought to Manila; they did everything. And then the paediatric doctor told us they’ll call about the results,” said Salma. “After around two months or over one month, that’s when we found out. It was polio. Staff from the rural health unit came to us, even doctors from other countries. That’s when we found out.”
Prior to moving back to their province, Salma, her husband Haimer and their children were living in Manila. Salma and Haimer were business owners, selling ready-to-wear clothes. When they were in Manila, Junaisa only received one dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV). To protect children against polio, they must receive at least three doses of polio drops and one dose of polio shot, provided for free to children one year old and below in the routine immunization programme.
Haimer and Salma together with two out of seven children, Abdul Raffy, 5, and Junaisa, 3. Photo: WHO/F. Tanggol
Salma explained, “When I left the hospital, she received the BCG. Then, she had one dose of OPV. That’s it. There was nothing else because I was selling, she was here at home, and no one from the health centre came.”
Now Junaisa is paralysed and unable to walk on her own. They transferred temporarily in a relative’s home to be closer to Amai Pakpak Medical Center, with the parents bringing with them Junaisa and two of her siblings. The hospital is providing free rehabilitation services for Junaisa.
“They put something here [gesturing to the legs]. They said it will help in moving the legs, in the nerves. And then they also exercise the legs. We just started so that’s all I saw so far.”
The rehabilitation in Amai Pakpak started just a few days ago. At home, Salma also gives rehabilitation to her daughter, assisting her to stand up so she learns how to balance.
While the rehabilitation is free, the family is finding it a challenge to cope with the expenses, especially with transportation going to and from the hospital and eventually the need for an assistive device like a wheelchair. Haimer has taken a leave of absence from his work, where there is no work, no pay. Salma focused on being a homemaker to take care of Junaisa and the other kids.
“It’s really difficult,” Salma shared. “Before this, you can just let them be because they could all walk. When Junaisa was able to walk, she would bathe herself, she would feed herself. Now, I have to do everything.”
“I don’t know if she will be saved, if she will still be able to walk or that’s how she will be,” she added with tears in her eyes.
Salma cried when she shared Junaisa’s story, saying: “I don’t know if she will be saved, if she will still be able to walk or that’s how she will be.” Photo: WHO/F. Tanggol
Salma is also worried about stigma and bullying that Junaisa may experience.
“Some of our neighbours say [the virus] can be transferred, this and that,” shared Salma. “They said that we can get polio by touching her. I said if that’s the case then I should have gotten polio by now because I take care of her.”
According to WHO and UNICEF, the poliovirus transmission will be stopped in the community if at least 95% of the children under 5 years old receive multiple doses of the polio drops.
Despite the challenges, the mother is hopeful that Junaisa will still be able to live a full life and finish her education. Salma has a strong message for all parents: “Have your children vaccinated, don’t neglect them.”