SIR – I was deeply saddened to hear Syria is now facing further woe in the form of polio outbreaks.

The BBC reported how a mother wept for her baby son who could be paralysed for the rest of his life. This little boy is one of 25 officially confirmed cases, although experts believe there may be hundreds more. The saddest thing of all is that in 1999 Syria was declared polio-free – the war and chaos has allowed it to return.

In July, the first case of paralysis from polio was diagnosed in Syria. Since the war began the vaccination rates amongst children have fallen to 68 per cent. It was uplifting to hear UN agencies are planning to vaccinate a further 22 million children but I fear lasting damage has already been done.

Polio is a disease that can affect a nation for decades. Britain has been declared free of polio for many years now but we are still living with the effects. The British Polio Fellowship is here to help thousands living with the late effects of polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS).

For polio survivors facing PPS in the UK now, The British Polio Fellowship is a call or a click away. Visit britishpolio.org.uk or call us on 0800 0180586.

Ted Hill MBE, CEO, The British Polio Fellowship