Saifullah: nine years of volunteer service to protect children’s health
28-year-old Saifullah has been volunteering in polio vaccination campaigns for the past nine years, immunizing children in his community.
Paktika, Afghanistan – Dawn had barely broken over the mountains of Yousafkhel district when 28-year-old Saifullah set out on his daily mission in the polio vaccination campaign.
A resident of Baratkhel village in Yousafkhel district, Saifullah has spent the past nine years volunteering in the campaign. Throughout the day, he and his fellow volunteers go from site to site, vaccinating children under five to protect them from polio.
“I don’t want to see any child get paralyzed by polio,” Saifullah says. “That’s what inspired me to start volunteering.”
How it started
Saifullah says his journey as a volunteer began in childhood, watching the elders in his family. “I always saw our elders helping people resolve their problems,” he recalls. “Even then, I told myself that when I grew up, I wanted to do something meaningful for my community.”
When the opportunity to join the polio vaccination campaign came along, he signed up as a volunteer.
Not just vaccines: Raising awareness too
On campaign days, Saifullah and his team go site to site, vaccinating children and talking with family elders about their children’s health.
They also share information about the importance of breastfeeding, handwashing, hygiene, and disease prevention.
“We don’t just vaccinate children,” Saifullah says. “We also try to help every family understand that a child’s health depends on a combination of key habits, and that vaccination is an important part of that.”
On a typical day, his team vaccinates around 150 children while also providing health education to their families.
“If even one child misses vaccination, I try to go back and make sure they receive it,” he says.
© Polio Free Afghanistan | 2026
Saifullah marks a girl’s finger after giving her the polio vaccine.
Building trust through conversation
Delivering health services in the mountainous areas of Paktika is not without its challenges. Long distances and, at times, misinformation can make it difficult for vaccination teams to build trust.
Saifullah says some families were wary of the polio vaccine in his early years as a volunteer. But he soon learned that trust is built through conversation, patience and respect.
“We listen to people first. We try to understand their concerns, then respond calmly and respectfully with the necessary information,” he says.
A trust-building experience
One day in Baratkhel village, a family refused to have their child vaccinated against polio. The child’s father was concerned about the vaccine, having been swayed by rumors.
Saifullah listened to him first. He then explained the dangers of polio, the safety of the vaccine, and the importance of protecting the child’s future.
After a brief conversation, the family changed their mind, and the child was vaccinated.
“That day showed me that when we listen to people and treat them with respect, trust follows,” Saifullah says.
Smiles that make it all worthwhile
For Saifullah, the polio vaccination campaign is more than volunteer work; it’s an effort to protect children’s futures. He says that traveling to remote areas and other hardships are no obstacle to his goal.
“When a child is vaccinated, I feel like I’ve taken an important step toward protecting their future.”
© Polio Free Afghanistan | 2026
Saifullah with vaccinated children during a polio vaccination campaign.
Family support
Behind Saifullah’s volunteer service is his family’s unwavering support.
His father, Faiz Khan, always tells him: “People’s prayers and appreciation are worth more than any material gain.”
Saifullah says the support of his family, along with the trust of the community, inspires him to carry out his work not as a job, but as a social responsibility.
The hope for a polio-free Afghanistan
Saifullah hopes that one day Afghanistan will be free of polio, and that no child will ever face permanent disability because of the disease.
“My hope is for every child in this country to have a healthy, active, and polio-free future.”
He also has a message for young people: “Serving others isn’t just a duty, it’s a responsibility. If everyone works sincerely for their community, we can build a better future for our children.”
