The purpose of this project is to reconstruct the history of the struggle against poliomyelitis, one of the main causes of disability in the last century, in Madrid, Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha during the twentieth century, from the following perspectives: 1) a study of the outbreaks of epidemics at the beginning of the century and in the 1950s and 1960s; 2) a scientific approach to the problem in the geographical areas indicated, covering all the possible therapeutic options and placing the subject in an international and national context; 3) the social medical response through the foundation of welfare institutions (with the gradual introduction of new technologies) and the establishment of public health campaigns to eradicate the disease; 4) the role played by the religious orders and other voluntary sectors in tackling the problem of polio; and 5) polio from the perspective of the history of disability.

Consejería de Educación y Ciencia. Junta de Castilla-La Mancha

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha