Both a vaccinator and a spreader of awareness; M. zaman has convinced many refusing parents to vaccinate their children
Hosai Ahmadzai, Kabul
In Panjshir, Mohammed Zaman, a dedicated vaccinator, goes beyond just administering vaccines to children; he actively promotes public awareness and has successfully persuaded numerous hesitant parents, who were influenced by misinformation about the polio vaccine, to immunize their children.
“Panjshir is one of the central mountainous provinces of Afghanistan, situated in the Hindu Kush Mountain range to the northeast of the capital, Kabul.”
Muhammad Zaman, a 23-year-old resident of Chamal Warda village in the Rokha district of the mentioned province, has been working as a polio vaccination volunteer for the past three years.
Mohammed Zaman, a dedicated vaccinator, goes beyond just administering vaccines to children; he actively promotes public awareness and has successfully persuaded numerous hesitant parents, who were influenced by misinformation about the polio vaccine, to immunize their children © Polio free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Hosai Ahmadzai
“I consider the administration of polio vaccines to be my national and religious duty”
Mohammed Zaman states, around three years ago upon completing his primary education, he decided to start administering polio vaccines in his area with the help of his friends.
According to him, the reason he works in the polio program is to prevent the polio disease, because polio is very dangerous, has no cure, and can only be prevented through vaccination.
He said: “I do my job with a great sense of purpose. I consider safeguarding children from polio my national and religious duty. During the polio vaccination campaigns, I vaccinate around 100 children daily in the assigned area and try not to leave any child unvaccinated.”
Mohammad Zaman mentioned, during work, he encounters individuals with varying attitudes. Some happily come forward to have their children receive polio vaccines, but some refuse to vaccinate their children.
He adds that, for him, satisfaction doesn’t come only from providing vaccinations to children. He also tries to clarify the minds of those exposed to disinformation about the polio vaccine and who don’t vaccinate their children.
In this regard, he mentioned Fayaz Rahimi, a resident of Piawash village of Rokha district, who is ready to vaccinate his children as a result of his efforts.
He says: “45-year-old Fayaz Rahimi a father of four children had heard disinformation about the polio vaccine and didn’t want his children to be vaccinated.”
According to him, he engaged in discussions about the value of the polio vaccine with Fayaz Rahimi for several days. As a result, he convinced Rahimi that, God forbid, the polio virus could either take the lives of his children or leave them permanently disabled. Therefore, it is important to prevent such outcomes in advance with a vaccine.
45-year-old Fayaz Rahimi with his children © Polio free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Hosai Ahmadzai
“Mohammed Zaman changed my mind about the polio vaccine made me understand the benefits of vaccine”
Fayaz Rahimi states, that he had heard rumors about the polio vaccine. There were claims that the vaccine might affect children’s behavior, lead to infertility impacting their ability to have children in the future.
According to him, after the vaccinator Muhammad Zaman engaged in discussions and arguments with him for days, presenting the opinions of scholars and religious leaders regarding the polio vaccine, he realized that he had been a victim of disinformation.
He stated, “after that, not only am I vaccinating my own children on time but I am also encouraging other parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from this life-threatening disease.”
He calls on parents, emphasizing that if they neglect and not vaccinate their children, the virus of this disease could either kill their children or leave them disabled for life. In such cases, not only would they be a burden on their families, but also on the community.
Dr. Rahim Dad Faizi, the Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Public Health Department of Panjshir © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 1402/ Hosai Ahmadzai
“The only way to protect children from polio is to vaccinate them”
Dr. Rahim Dad Faizi, the Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Public Health Department of Panjshir praises Fayaz Rahimi, a father who stepped forward to vaccinate his children against polio following the efforts of vaccinator Muhammad Zaman.”
He states, polio is a dangerous infectious disease that primarily affects children under the age of five.
“The virus enters the body through the mouth via contaminated water and food. It then settles in the intestines, multiplies, and enters the bloodstream. Then, it attacks the central nervous system, damaging the spinal cord, which, in turn, leads to the destruction of nerve cells resulting in disability.”
He stated, the only way for families to protect their children from this dangerous disease is by administering the vaccine.
He further explained that the emphasis on the vaccine is due to the lack of a cure for this disease.
