Polio, once a dreaded childhood disease, is very close to being eradicated. The visitor will learn that although polio was a frightening and possibly fatal childhood disease, many agencies are working to eradicate this disease by 2005. Visitors will be moved by pictures of children in developing countries suffering from polio, and images of the race to give the vaccine to all the world’s children.
Paul Martin Sr. played a significant role in the mass inoculation of Canadian children. When 205 children contracted polio after being immunized in the 1950s, the US halted their immunization program. This left Canada’s Health Minister with an agonizing decision – should he stop the Canadian immunization program. Minister Martin had suffered polio himself as had his son. Desperate to end the epidemic, he let the program continue, uninterrupted.
As a result, three million Canadian children in grades one to three were vaccinated.
PHOTO & INTERVIEW OPS:
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Hélène Chalifour Scherrer
Minister of State (Public Health), Dr. Carolyn Bennett
Elizabeth Lounsbury, Chair, Polio Canada (Polio survivor)
Wilf Wilkinson, President, Rotary Foundation (Canada)
Dr. Randall Brooks, Curator, Physical Sciences and Space, Canada Science and Technology Museum
Artifacts on display will include an Iron Lung from the Museum’s collection
