Changing Minds, Changing Lives: The Efforts of Social Mobilizers in Polio Prevention

Badakhshan, Afghanistan – The role of social mobilizers in Afghanistan’s fight against polio has increased more than ever.

Among the dedicated mobilizers on the front lines of this critical battle are Nazanin Ahmadi and Mohammad Ehsan.

For the past three years, Nazanin and for the past four years, Mohammad Ehsan, have drawn on their unique experiences and strategies to convince dozens of families—who had previously refused vaccination due to misinformation and rumors—to vaccinate their children.

Nazanin recalls one particular success story of a family who had initially refused to vaccinate their children against polio. However, after her persistent efforts, the family eventually agreed to vaccinate their children.

This family had been influenced by misconceptions and rumors, believing the polio vaccine caused infertility and harmed children’s health.

“I spent a full month speaking with this family, presenting them with real-life examples and medical evidence of the benefits of the polio vaccine. In the end, I managed to convince them to vaccinate their children, protecting them from the dangerous disease of polio,” she said.

According to Nazanin, every time her efforts lead a family to vaccinate their children, she feels one step closer to the larger goal of eradicating polio.

She believes that the best way to change people’s negative perceptions is to engage with them using simple language and real-life examples.

She urges parents to abandon their doubts and think about the future health of their children.

“Vaccines are a vital tool that safeguard children from polio. If we want our children to stay healthy and avoid becoming a burden on their families or society in the future, we must ensure they are regularly vaccinated today,” she added.

 

For the past three years, Nazanin, and for the past four years, Mohammad Ehsan, have drawn on their unique experiences and strategies to convince dozens of families—who had previously refused vaccination due to misinformation and rumors—to vaccinate their children © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Raqiba Hamidi

 

Mohammad Ehsan, a colleague of Nazanin, primarily focuses on educating and persuading male elders in families.

In his opinion, men are often the decision-makers in many families, so it is essential to inform and convince them about the importance of polio vaccination.

He says he has held numerous meetings on the importance of vaccination and, through these efforts, has made significant changes in his catchment area.

Ehsan added, “My greatest achievement was convincing Haji Mir Agha, a village leader, that vaccines protect children from the crippling and deadly disease of polio. Once he supported the vaccine, many families in the village began participating in the vaccination campaigns and vaccinated their children.”

Families who previously refused to vaccinate their children but were later convinced by the efforts of social mobilizers are now pleased with their decisions.

One such family is that of Amanullah’s, who said they initially believed the vaccine was harmful to their children’s health.

“We had heard rumors that the polio vaccine caused infertility, so we didn’t vaccinate our children, but when Nazanin Ahmadi visited us multiple times, providing accurate information and real-life examples, we realized that the vaccine doesn’t harm children but protects them from polio,” he said.

Similarly, a mother named Sadaf said that when a social mobilizer provided her with accurate information and she saw the vaccinated children in her neighborhood, she understood that the polio vaccine posed no harm.

“Now, I vaccinate my children regularly, and I’m happy that we made the right decision for their health,” she added.

The efforts of mobilizers like Nazanin Ahmadi and Mohammad Ehsan in Badakhshan have proven that through continuous awareness-raising and the presentation of accurate information, public perceptions can be changed and the trust of the community can be built.

This is a significant step toward eradicating polio and providing a brighter future for the next generation.

If the support for such social mobilizers continues, it may not be long before polio is completely eradicated in Afghanistan, leaving children safe from polio.

 

By Raqiba Hamidi, Polio Free Afghanistan