IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT POLIO
POLIO FACTS
Fact#1
In the affected two countries the factors that have been identified as contributing to continued polio transmission are: poor health service, lack of awareness, illiteracy, high population density, high incidence of diarrheal diseases, and low oral polio vaccine coverage.
Fact#2
It is thought that almost all the children were infected with poliovirus early in life before the invention of vaccines. Immunization with OPV started towards the end of the 1950s. This significantly reduced the occurrence of poliovirus. However, in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication campaign launched. It introduced transmission in most populations and the number of cases fell from around 350 000 in 1988 to 22 WPV and 96 cVDPV cases in 2017.
Fact#3
A paralysis caused by poliovirus can progress for up to one week. Permanent weakness is observed in two-thirds of patients suffering with this disease. Most of the reversible damage will have disappeared by 30 days. There’s a ray of hope that suggests that some return of function can also be expected up until nine months.
DIARY OF POLIO WORKER
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
NEWS AND FEATURES
Birth in Hospitals: An Effective Strategy for Protection Against Polio and Other Diseases
Rahmatullah Marjankhel Ghazni, Afghanistan – Health experts assert that hospital births play a positive role...
Read more... UNICEF’s 7-Ton Medical Aid: A Major Step Toward Solving Health Challenges in Zabul
Saeed Zabuli Zabul, Afghanistan – As part of a recent initiative, UNICEF (United Nations International...
Read more... Community Leaders’ Role in Polio Eradication: Fighting Rumors and Promoting Vaccination
Raqiba Hamidi Badakhshan, Afghanistan – In Afghanistan’s local communities, especially in remote areas, the role...
Read more... Public Cooperation in Polio Vaccine Administration Has Increased
Rahmatullah Marjankhel Ghazni, Afghanistan — Health officials in Ghazni report that public cooperation in implementing...
Read more... From Concerns to Awareness: Efforts to Eradicate Polio in Badakhshan
Raqiba Hamidi Badakhshan, Afghanistan – Badakhshan, a remote and mountainous province in the northeast of...
Read more... Polio-Affected Girl: Nasima’s Tough Life and Her Family’s Endurance
Rahmatullah Marjankhel Ghazni, Afghanistan – Abdul Qader, a 42-year-old resident of Joi Char village in...
Read more... “Safeguarding Children from Polio is Everyone’s Responsibility”
Saeed Zabuli Helmand, Afghanistan – Tribal elders and religious scholars of Helmand province emphasize, in...
Read more... Polio Vaccination Campaigns in Badakhshan: Challenges, Collaborations, and Parents’ Experiences
Raqiba Hamidi Badakhshan, Afghanistan – Due to its complex and challenging geography, Badakhshan has long...
Read more... How the Polio Vaccine Saved Abdul Rahim from Polio Three Decades Ago
Marzia Frotan Herat, Afghanistan – 37-year-old Abdul Rahim, who works as a freight carrier in...
Read more... Marzia Sadiqi: “I am Working to Eliminate Negative Perceptions about the Polio Vaccine”
Abdul Saboor Serat Balkh, Afghanistan – Marzia Sadiqi, a 23-year-old resident of Mazar-i-Sharif’s 5th district...
Read more... TEAM ACTIVITY
The first national polio vaccination campaign of the year begins
Kabul, Afghanistan – The Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, in coordination with international partners,.
Read more... Preventing Epidemic Diseases with Islamic Guidelines
Mufti Shamsurahman Frotan Head of the Islamic Advisory Group Part 1 Preventive medicine shares.
Read more... Islamic Sharia and Polio
Mufti Shamsurahman Frotan The focal point of the Islamic Advisory Group Introduction The purpose.
Read more... The first sub-national polio vaccination campaign for 2024 begins
Kabul, Afghanistan (29 January 2024): The Ministry of Public Health, in coordination with international partners,.
Read more... Doubts and Suspicions about Polio Vaccines and Their Responses
Mufti Shamsurahman Frotan National Islamic Advisory Group Focal Point Preface: There are doubts and.
Read more... Message from Afghanistan’s Health Minister on World Polio Day
Congratulations on World Polio Day! This day marks a significant global health milestone intended to.
Read more... Afghanistan-Pakistan Polio Eradication Meeting Held
Kabul, Afghanistan: In the Cross-Border Meeting (CBM) of Polio Eradication Programs of Afghanistan and Pakistan,.
Read more... The sixth polio case is also reported from Nangarhar Province
Kabul, Afghanistan (27 September 2023): Unfortunately, one new WPV1 case from Khogyani district of Nangarhar.
Read more... Nationwide polio vaccine campaign begins
Kabul, Afghanistan, (25 September 2023): The Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with international partners,.
Read more... The Call Center: An Effective Step towards Improved Polio Program Management
Kabul, Afghanistan: The National Emergency Operations Center has inaugurated a “Call Center” to outreach and.
Read more... POLIO HERO OF THE MONTH
15Sep
Mohibullah Rashidi’s Efforts in Delivering Polio Vaccines to Children
Rahmatullah Marjankhil Ghazni, Afghanistan – Mohibullah Rashidi, carrying a polio vaccine carrier box on his shoulder, is busy vaccinating nomad…
07Sep
Ursala Umar Khel: A Committed Polio Vaccination Campaign Mobilizer in Balkh
Abdul Saboor Serat Balkh, Afghanistan – In Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, Ursala Umar Khel, a social mobilizer for…
06Sep
A Hero on the Difficult Path Against Polio
Saeed Zabuli Zabul, Afghanistan – In the remote district of Shamulzayi, Zabul, a young man is striving to safeguard children…
27Apr
Saifullah Khamush: I am proud to fight on the front line against polio
Saeed Zabulai Zabul, Afghanistan – Zabul, situated in the southwest region of the country, lies 353 kilometers away from Kabul…
24Oct
The active role of female vaccinators in the polio vaccination campaigns in Herat
Marzia Frotan Herat, Afghanistan: Salima Rasuli, the 18-year-old female vaccinator knocks on the red color door of a house in…
18Nov
Kandahar Youth Join the Fight Against Polio
“It was that day where my neighbor Abdullah, a 3 years-old child didn’t come with his two sisters to my…
18Nov
Mursal, a dedicated and brave Polio worker
Ms. Mursal has been working for the Immunization Communication Network (ICN) since 2017 and now she is the District Communication…
18Nov
“Change can be brought with commitment and courage”
Diana, Communication Cluster Supervisor Jalalabad AFG Diana is a young lady working as Cluster Communication Supervisor in Jalalabad city of…
18Nov
Razia ‘’without women, polio eradication is a long journey’’
Razia is the in charge of community outreach activities in Kandahar city, south of Afghanistan. She joined the struggle against…
18Nov
Dr Farima is unstoppable
Dr Farima Azimi, at 22 years old, is a medical graduate and a District Polio Officer in Kandahar province in…
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