An information meeting for polio survivors, family and friends takes place in County Waterford tomorrow.
The infectious disease which mainly affects children was common in Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s
The event at the Park Hotel in Dungarvan starts at 12 noon and is organised by Polio Survivors Ireland.
Development Officer Emma Clarke Conway is inviting polio survivors from the area to attend "to come and find out more about what we do for people who have had polio".
"What we're going to do is talk to the people coming about how we can help polio survivors, be it our own services, also what statutory services there are and to talk to them about ways that polio survivors can get involved with our organisation should they wish to do so."
She says polio survivors can be impacted by Post Polio Syndrome as they age.
"They can have a new weakness, pain, cold intolerance, chronic fatigue, changes in joints and respiratory disfunction.
"All of these problems can then impact on somebody's mobility and independence when they have fought so hard for so many years to be rehabilitated from the original polio that they had as a child.
"It's almost as if polio has come back for them.
"They need support, they need potentially aids and appliances, orthotics, or just even a listening ear to help them to manage this."
Emma Clarke Conway says the meeting is a great way to meet other survivors
"It gives people an opportunity to talk to each other, they can sometimes get ideas about what works from just a simple conversation, sometimes they know each other from childhood.
She added that they also welcome friends and family to come with the polio survivor because they sometimes find that support is there from fellow friends and family that they might need."
Non-members are welcome but they must let Polio Survivors Ireland know they are attending, for numbers, as they are going to serve a light lunch. 01 889 8920.
