Six year old Gafo becomes the face of Papua New Guinea’s polio outbreak response efforts

He fell as soon as he got out of bed, his legs so weak he could barely move. Over the next two days, despite his mother Soya’s constant massaging, Gafo’s pain worsened. On the third day, the family brought Gafo to Angau Memorial General Hospital in Lae, Morobe, on the central northern coast of Papua New Guinea. A series of tests confirmed that polio was the cause of Gafo’s paralysis. Soon it became clear that the virus was circulating in the community.

For many weeks, Gafo was the nameless and faceless “first polio case in Papua New Guinea in 18 years”, as it was reported in the national and international media. His case was instrumental in raising awareness of polio in Papua New Guinea. His story brought children to the vaccination sites when the Government, with support from United Nations agencies, launched mass polio vaccinations as part of their outbreak response.

“My son may not have the normal life we prayed for, but he will always be a special boy,” says Gafo’s mother, Soya. “What happened to my son has increased awareness of polio and many mothers are having their children vaccinated, saving these children from lifelong paralysis.” Morobe Provincial Polio Response Coordinator, Mr Micah Yawing, echoed the sentiment: “Because of …[Gafo], we are able to vaccinate and protect many children in Morobe Province. If it wasn’t for this kid, we probably still wouldn’t know that we have an outbreak on our hands.”

In the first 100 days of its polio outbreak, Papua New Guinea implemented a focused response to the crisis. On 22 June 2018, the same day that the virus’s circulation was detected in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea notified the World Health Organization, as per requirement under the International Health Regulations. A public announcement was made on 25 June 2018 and the next day a national emergency was declared by the Government of Papua New Guinea. With support from United Nations agencies, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Response was activated a day later. The work of over 9,000 health workers has seen 3.3 million children under the age of 15 vaccinated nation-wide.

With help from the Morobe Provincial Health Office and Angau Memorial General Hospital, Gafo receives regular check-ups and therapy. Gafo’s paralysis will never be cured, but the regular therapy he is receiving from his doctor, Dr Winnie Sadua at Angau Memorial General Hospital, will help to improve his mobility and minimise the physical challenges facing him. Gafo still cannot run, but he has developed his own unique gait, moving rapidly to keep up with his friends and his sister, Sola. Next year Gafo will start school, and he lights up with excitement at the idea: “I want to become a doctor,” he says, “giving injections to children and making them feel better when they are sick.”