Combating Polio at Islam Qala Border: Hundreds of Children Vaccinated Daily
Marzia Frotan
Herat, Afghanistan – Every day, hundreds of children crossing the Islam Qala border in Herat province, whether entering or leaving Afghanistan, receive the polio vaccine. This vital initiative ensures that no child is left unprotected from this debilitating disease.
29 years old Abdul Wahid, who has returned to Afghanistan from Iran with his family, holds his four-month-old baby in one arm and carries his bag and other belongings with the other. Upon entering his country, he immediately goes into a container that serves as a health center. The vaccinators in this small health center vaccinate all children entering or leaving Afghanistan.
Abdul Wahid, a resident of Herat who has returned to his homeland after four years, was concerned about his child’s health due to polio cases in some provinces.
“I am very happy to have my child vaccinated at the Islam Qala border before going to the city. I’ve often heard in the news about children in some provinces of Afghanistan contracting polio, so I was concerned for my child,” he says.
No Child Left Unvaccinated
Vaccinating children who return to Afghanistan or leave the country is a must. While polio vaccination campaigns typically target children under the age of five, at the health center of the Islam Qala border in Herat, children up to ten years old are vaccinated.
Dr. Noor Ahmad Mohammadi, the head of the health center at the Islam Qala border, says that on average, around 100 children under the age of ten are vaccinated at this health center every day. “We have two teams here that work from early morning until late at night at the zero point of the border, vaccinating the children of travelers who move between the two countries.”
He added, “Every child entering or leaving the country receives polio immunization from our teams; we do not allow any child to miss the vaccine and risk spreading the polio virus to our country or other countries.”
Up to 3,000 people from various countries, particularly Iran, cross the Islam Qala border daily, accompanied by dozens of children under ten years old.
Dr. Noor Ahmad Mohammadi, the head of the health center at the Islam Qala border, says that on average, around 100 children under the age of ten are vaccinated at this health center every day. “We have two teams here that work from early morning until late at night at the zero point of the border, vaccinating the children of travelers who move between the two countries.” © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan
Addressing Public Concerns
Afghan families, upon returning to the country, have their children vaccinated against polio at the border, alleviating their concerns about the polio virus.
Thirty-eight-year-old Kabul Jan, a resident of Khost province, has returned to Afghanistan after eleven years of living as a refugee. He has three children under ten who were vaccinated by health teams at the Islam Qala border upon entering the country.
“Given that the polio virus is still present in Afghanistan, I was concerned. However, the activities of the polio vaccination teams have somewhat alleviated these worries. I was very afraid that my children might contract polio while traveling to Khost. Now, I am very happy that polio vaccines are available in the country,” he says.
Kabul Jan adds, “When I reach my province, I will ensure my children are vaccinated in every campaign. We faced many difficulties during our time as refugees, and I do not want the polio virus to threaten my children’s lives.”
Several doctors emphasize the importance of health center activities and polio vaccination services at borders. According to them, these health teams act as a shield against the polio virus, preventing it from entering or leaving the country.
Thirty-eight-year-old Kabul Jan, a resident of Khost province, has returned to Afghanistan after eleven years of living as a refugee. He has three children under ten who were vaccinated by health teams at the Islam Qala border upon entering the country. © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan
Ensuring the Safety of Future Generations
The vaccination efforts at Islam Qala play a crucial role in Afghanistan’s fight against polio. By vaccinating every child crossing this border, health workers are protecting the nation’s children and contributing to the global eradication of this disease.
