Lola
Corrales was born in Madrid, Spain in August 1958. Lola suffered of
polio at the age of 13 months, during an epidemic.
She was not
vaccinated, because Franco's dictatorship (1939-1975) only used Salk
anti polio vaccine for rich and friends of the Government, but not
for the rest of the population. Besides, Franco's dictatorship was
the opinion “Salk vaccine is not good, because cause polio”.
In
autumn 1998, Lola Corrales knew through
internet about
the post-polio syndrome, since the Spanish Administration (the
Ministry of Health, among others), although already knew the
existence of the Post-Polio Syndrome, kept silence about it.
Afterwards she worked one and a half year with a polio survivors
group.
Asociación
Afectados de Polio y Síndrome Post-Polio
was established by Lola Corrales and eight other polio survivors in
February 2000.
Since then, the Association has achieved national dimension and has
changed the lives of many people with polio.
We
have addressed several proposals to the Spanish Parliament, as well
as several written questions to the Council and Commission of the EU.
Furthermore interviews in television, radio and newspapers, all
related to the polio and post-polio syndrome.
In
December 2003, we have also filed a criminal complaint before the
Criminal Court in Madrid, regarding felony for intentional injury
that brings about the polio and post-polio syndrome, which was
admitted by the Trial Court, having appreciated indications of crime.
After a lengthy process, in April 2008, the Provincial Court of
Madrid decided the provisional dismissal and file of the case, but
mentioning the important historical information contained in the
complaint.
Currently
several members of the Association, have individually filed
complaints before the National Court, Supreme Court, Constitutional
Court and European Court of Human Rights.
Since
2000, Lola Corrales is President of the Asociación
Afectados de Polio y Síndrome Post-Polio.