Aziz Gul: A Shield for Children Against the Poliovirus
Herat, Afghanistan – In a remote village in the Injil district of Herat province, a mother named Aziz Gul, wearing a hijab, walks hand in hand with her children towards a health center.
Aziz Gul walks 10 kilometers on foot to bring her three children for their polio vaccinations every time.
Despite living in a traditional society, this 38-year-old mother is determined to ensure her children’s health.
Aziz Gul sits in the waiting room of the health center, holding her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter in her arms while her two sons, aged three and four, sit beside her.
The children proudly show off their colored fingers, a sign that shows they have received two drops of the polio vaccine for protection against the virus.
Aziz Gul stated with enthusiasm and a firm voice, “My goal is to protect my children from the polio virus; I don’t want to see them paralyzed.”
Living in Imam Shash Noor village, she brings her children for vaccination by herself, as her husband is a laborer and is often away from home, working long hours to provide for the family.
This wise mother has obtained all the necessary information about vaccination from doctors and health workers. “My children’s health is my top priority. Every month, without delay, I bring them for vaccination. Now, they are safe from the polio virus, and that is my greatest joy,” she said.
Aziz Gul sits in the waiting room of the health center, holding her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter in her arms while her two sons, aged three and four, sit beside her. The children proudly show off their colored fingers, a sign that shows they have received two drops of the polio vaccine for protection against the virus © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Marzia Frotan
Aziz Gul not only vaccinates her children against polio but also ensures their protection against other diseases like measles and hepatitis. She has a clear message for other mothers: “I urge all women to vaccinate their children. While only a few people now oppose the polio vaccine, many mothers like me have come to understand its importance and vaccinate their children regularly.”
Mursal Azimi, a vaccinator at the Injil district health center, speaks respectfully about such mothers: “Despite being illiterate and living in a traditional society, these women have proven to be responsible mothers. They vaccinate their children independently, without the presence of men, playing a vital role in preventing the spread of the polio virus.”
Aziz Gul and other mothers like her are a shield for society against the poliovirus. With every vaccination, they not only protect their children but safeguard the entire community.
These mothers have brought awareness and a sense of responsibility to rural communities, shedding a bright light that paves the way for fighting against viruses and deadly diseases.
By Marzia Frotan, Polio Free Afghanistan
