A victim of polio: “If children are not vaccinated, they will suffer my fate”
Saeed Zabuli
Helmand, Afghanistan: “Three decades ago, the lack of vaccination left me with polio, a cruel affliction that forever robbed me of the use of my left arm and leg, shattering my life.”
These are the words of a 34-year-old from Kajaki district in Helmand province, who fell victim to polio at the age of four, robbing him of life’s simple joys from childhood onward.
Ahmadullah, relying on a walking stick to navigate life’s challenges, expressed, “Had my parents not overlooked vaccination back then, this cruel fate would have spared me, and I wouldn’t have become a burden to our community.”
A father to seven children, comprising four sons and three daughters, he laments how polio disrupted his life to such an extent that it not only forced him to halt his education but also rendered him incapable of working, perpetually reliant on the assistance of others.
He sighed while saying these words and added, “It is very difficult to have half a dozen children depending on you in a shattered existence when you are incapable of providing for their upbringing. You are left with nothing but to survive with the help of others.”
According to him, if polio had not hindered his ability to use his hands and feet, he would have been able to work like other healthy people, and his economic situation would not be as dire as it is now.
Ahmadullah a father to seven children, comprising four sons and three daughters, laments how polio disrupted his life to such an extent that it not only forced him to halt his education but also rendered him incapable of working, perpetually reliant on the assistance of others ©Polio Free Afghanistan/ Saeed Zabuli
He says that despite his painful situation, he always thinks about the future of the children of the country because he doesn’t want their lives to be filled with suffering like his own.
He added, “Most of the time, I come across people who have fallen prey to false beliefs and do not vaccinate their children. I always tell them that if you don’t vaccinate your children, they may suffer a fate like mine. You can see how much I have suffered due to disability.”
He says that despite his difficult life, he takes comfort in knowing that he has encouraged many people in his area, who initially refused to vaccinate their children, to do so and thereby protect them from polio.
Twenty-five-year-old Bashir Ahmed, a resident of the area and Ahmadullah’s neighbor, stated that he is a close friend of Ahmadullah but is always troubled by his friend’s condition.
Ahmadullah says, “Had my parents not overlooked vaccination back then, this cruel fate would have spared me, and I wouldn’t have become a burden to our community.” ©Polio Free Afghanistan/ Saeed Zabuli
He added that, as a fellow human being, he always wishes that Ahmadullah’s parents had not neglected to vaccinate him during his childhood, as that might have prevented him from contracting polio.
Referring to his friend who has been affected by polio, he said, “Unfortunately, there is no cure for polio, but the only way to prevent it is with two drops of vaccine. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every father and mother to ensure their children are regularly vaccinated to protect them from polio.
Doctors and health workers also echo the same message, emphasizing that the polio virus poses a significant threat to the future of children. They stress that the only effective prevention method is administering two drops of the vaccine.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Andar from the region emphasizes, “There should be no negligence when it comes to vaccinating children. All children under the age of five should receive vaccination at every stage of the campaign.”
Religious scholar Maulawi Abdullah affirms the doctors’ statements and adds that according to Islamic guidelines, it is the responsibility of the people to take preventive measures against infectious diseases, and vaccination is one of these important measures.
He emphasizes that it is beneficial for parents to ensure their children receive two drops of the vaccine during each campaign to safeguard them from the serious threat of polio.
