Tabish Sherzad: A living example of courage and determination
Abdul Saboor Sirat
Balkh, Afghanistan – 22-year-old Tabish Sherzad serves as a living example of how determination, courage, and persistence can triumph over physical weakness.
He resides in the Pusht-e Bagh area of Dehdadi district in Balkh province. At the age of seven, he contracted polio which led to the paralysis of both of his legs.
For eight years, he was confined to a room due to his condition. During this period, he endured many hardships and was uncertain about how people would treat him if he went outside.
But Tabish said that, despite the challenges, he did not become discouraged and remained determined to reach his goals.
He started school in his village and successfully graduated. Currently, he is pursuing a degree in computer science at a private university.
Tabish, in addition to leading the youth in his region, says that he has been working as a social mobilizer with the Polio Eradication Program for the past three years.
Tabish Sherzad goes from house to house with the assistance of his walking frame, encouraging misinformed families to vaccinate their children. © Polio free Afghanistan/ 1402/ Abdul Saboor Sirat
According to him, the goal of his work is to ensure that other children do not become disabled like him due to the incurable disease of polio. He goes from house to house with the assistance of his walking frame, encouraging misinformed families to vaccinate their children.
“The primary motivation for my work in the polio program is that I myself suffer from this perilous disease. I want the children of this country to be safeguarded from this disabling illness, allowing them the ability to walk, play, study, and build their own futures,” he stated.
“Polio is worse than death, because a person’s suffering ends with death while the torment caused by polio persists relentlessly,” added Tabish.
Tabish Sherzad, alongside his colleagues, working towards raising public awareness. © Polio free Afghanistan/ 1402/ Abdul Saboor Sirat
He urges people to protect their children from disability by administering two drops of the polio vaccine.
His uncle, Wahidullah, also works as a volunteer in the polio eradication program.
He mentions that his nephew, Tabish, contracted polio at the age of seven, and despite numerous efforts to treat him both within the country and abroad, their efforts were unsuccessful.
He added that upon realizing there is no cure for polio, he volunteered together with Tabish in the polio eradication program and started to convey this message to every family: only two drops of the polio vaccine can safeguard our children from this life-threatening disease.
Tabish urging people to safeguard their children from disability by administering two drops of the polio vaccine © Polio free Afghanistan/ 1402/ Abdul Saboor Sirat
Tabish’s friend, Syed Mohammad Yazdanparast, asserts that Tabish Sherzad, who suffers from polio, exemplifies how determination, courage, and unwavering perseverance can triumph over physical weakness.
“Tabish plays a significant role in society as he educates people about the importance of vaccinating their children, aiming to prevent them from suffering the same fate as he has,” he asserted.
He adds that, unfortunately, there are still parents in the country who do not give their children the polio vaccine.
According to him, those parents are the worst enemies of their children because they don’t vaccinate them. A slight lapse on their part can lead to their child enduring a permanent disability, resulting in nothing but regret.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are among the countries in the world where polio is still a major threat to the lives of children.
