Marzia Sadiqi: “I am Working to Eliminate Negative Perceptions about the Polio Vaccine”
Abdul Saboor Serat
Balkh, Afghanistan – Marzia Sadiqi, a 23-year-old resident of Mazar-i-Sharif’s 5th district in Balkh province, is actively working to eliminate negative perceptions and misconceptions about the polio vaccine in her community.
Marzia, a graduate of Law and Political Science and a mother of four, has been serving as a social mobilizer for the polio campaign for the past two years.
In a society where misconceptions and false beliefs often create obstacles to polio vaccination and other healthcare initiatives, Marzia has emerged as an inspiring figure, tirelessly working to shift mindsets and safeguard the health of the younger generation.
Every morning at 7:00 a.m., she leaves her home and walks kilometers on foot until 4:00 p.m., raising awareness among families about the dangers of polio, a contagious and deadly disease, and the benefits of vaccination.
Marzia speaks to mothers in a simple, easy-to-understand language, with a warm, kind, and compassionate approach. She mentions that during the last polio vaccination campaign, she successfully convinced four families, who had previously refused the vaccine, to vaccinate their children.
In the most recent polio campaign, Marzia convinced four hesitant families, who had previously refused vaccination for their children, to vaccinate them.
She hopes that through her efforts, she will be able to convince all families in her area of responsibility to administer the polio vaccine, ensuring that no families refuse vaccination.
Marzia, a graduate of Law and Political Science and a mother of four, has been serving as a social mobilizer with the polio campaign for the past two years © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Abdul Saboor Serat
She says that the lives of other children are as important to her as the lives of her own children. She takes pride in contributing to the protection of children from the threat of polio.
“Every time a child gets vaccinated, I know that child is safeguarded from the deadly and paralyzing disease of polio. That brings me the greatest joy,” she said.
Her colleague Sara says that Marzia often works without even taking a lunch break and performs her duties with love and dedication. She also assists her other colleagues whenever possible.
Sara adds that Marzia is a brave, hardworking, and compassionate mobilizer who continues her efforts with love and skill, always ensuring that her tasks are completed properly.
Religious scholars in Balkh praise the efforts of social mobilizers and other workers involved in the polio vaccination campaign, urging the public to cooperate with them.
Mawlawi Faiz Mohammad, a religious scholar, mentioned that mobilizers and volunteers work selflessly to save children’s lives.
He described polio as a contagious, paralyzing, and deadly disease, urging mothers to cooperate with volunteers and ensure that their children receive two drops of the vaccine in each campaign to save their lives.
Polio campaign workers hope that in the future, more families will understand the value of the vaccine and that the doubts and misconceptions surrounding it will disappear.
