A tireless fight against polio
For the past fifteen years, Bibi Sherin Rasuli has worked on the front lines of polio prevention in Shutal District of Panjshir province, determined to ensure that no child falls victim to this disease.
Panjshir, Afghanistan – Shutal is a mountainous district of Panjshir province, where many homes are built along a winding river and on the foot of steep hills. Reaching these households often requires hours of walking, yet despite these challenges, Bibi Sherin Rasuli has never turned away from her path. She believes that reaching every child and ensuring they receive the vaccine is vital for eradicating polio.
“As long as even one child remains unvaccinated,” she says, “polio will continue to be a threat.”
Bibi Sherin joined the polio eradication program as a volunteer in 2010. Over the years, she has gained valuable experience, and her conviction that preventing polio is only possible through sustained and collective efforts has remained strong.
In this mountainous district, vaccinators sometimes must travel long distances, cross rivers, and walk along narrow mountain paths. But according to Bibi Sherin, geography is not always the hardest obstacle.
“Gaining people’s trust is the most challenging part,” she says.
Bibi Sherin Rasuli during a polio vaccination campaign in Shutal District © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2026
She adds that over the years she has come to understand that polio vaccination campaigns are not just about knocking on doors, but about building trust.
“When people have concerns, we must first listen to them,” she says. “Once trust is built, our words can have an impact.”
One of the most unforgettable memories from her work was the day she learned that a family elder did not want his child to be vaccinated and had sent his wife and child to another village to avoid vaccination. Bibi Sherin decided to meet them and try to persuade them.
“I thought that if I don’t act today, it might be too late tomorrow,” she says.
She traveled a long distance and, upon reaching the designated location, spoke with the family elder. She sought to conduct the conversation calmly, patiently, and with respect, listening first and then offering an explanation.
She says, “I told the family elder that polio has no cure, but it can be prevented. This vaccine is free and safe and helps protect our children.”
The discussion continued at length, with questions raised and concerns shared. Bibi Sherin strove to clarify the issue through different examples and to show that vaccination is essential for children’s health. Gradually, the family’s attitude changed, and in the end, the child was vaccinated.
“That moment was very meaningful to me, because I felt that I had helped secure a child’s future,” she says.
Polio is a contagious viral disease that can permanently paralyze a child. The disease has no cure, but it can be prevented. Health authorities recommend that children receive repeated doses of the polio vaccine to develop strong immunity against the virus. In Afghanistan, where polio has not yet been completely eradicated, each vaccination campaign is considered an important step toward protecting children.
Bibi Sherin Rasuli administers polio vaccine to children © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2026
Over the years, Bibi Sherin has seen vaccination coverage increase in many areas of Shutal and people’s trust grow stronger. In her view, this progress is the result of sustained work and collective efforts.
“This is not just the work of vaccinators,” she says. “The cooperation of community leaders and the awareness of parents play a very important role.”
Even today, when a polio campaign begins, Bibi Sherin travels long distances with her colleagues, moving from one area to another to ensure that every child receives the vaccine. For her, this work is not just a job, but a lasting responsibility.
“I hope the day will come when no child is ever paralyzed by polio again,” she says.
Bibi Sherin has a clear message for parents: “Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure. Just two drops of the vaccine can protect our children’s future. Do not let misinformation put your children’s future at risk.”
Although Afghanistan still faces the threat of the poliovirus, serious efforts are underway to eradicate it.
The dedication of frontline workers like Bibi Sherin Rasuli shows that polio eradication in this country is not just a hope, but an achievable reality.
