Polio Vaccination: The Efforts of Mothers and Vaccinators for the Safe Future of Children

Herat, Afghanistan – On a sunny morning, 25-year-old Wajiha, holding one child in her arms and another by the hand, arrives at a polio vaccination site in Herat’s Ninth District.

Four-year-old Yasin and one-and-a-half-month-old Gulsoom wait alongside their mother to receive polio vaccines.

This is the first time Wajiha has brought her children to this vaccination site. Previously, vaccinators visited her home to administer the vaccine.

With a mix of eagerness and concern evident on her face, Wajiha says, “Vaccinating my children is my top priority. I do not want them to suffer lifelong paralysis because of missed vaccinations. As a mother, it is my responsibility to pay attention to their health.”

She adds, “Every time vaccinators came to our doorstep, they not only administered the vaccine to my children but also educated me about the dangers of polio and the benefits of vaccination. This helped me understand the significance of vaccines.”

She urges other families not to neglect vaccinating their children: “Saving children from paralysis is in your hands. Let’s vaccinate them regularly so they can grow up healthy and not become a burden on you or society in the future.”

Wajiha is one of the thousands of mothers who, after gaining awareness, eagerly and responsibly vaccinate their children.

 

Wajiha, with a mix of eagerness and concern evident on her face, says, “Vaccinating my children is my top priority. I do not want them to suffer lifelong paralysis because of missed vaccinations. As a mother, it is my responsibility to pay attention to their health.” © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan

 

The Significant Role of Female Vaccinators

The efforts of female vaccinators in raising awareness among families about the dangers of polio and the benefits of vaccination are unparalleled.

Leelma, a 34-year-old mother of four, has been working as a vaccinator in polio campaigns for the past three and a half years.

During this time, she has educated and convinced hundreds of families to vaccinate their children.

Leelma considers polio vaccination essential for securing children’s futures, explaining, “In the past, there were many cases in Herat where families refused to vaccinate their children. However, due to the consistent public awareness campaigns by the polio vaccination teams, such resistance has significantly decreased. Mothers’ enthusiasm has made the vaccination process more successful than before.”

She adds, “There are still two families in our area who refuse to vaccinate their children against polio. Despite our repeated efforts, including seeking assistance from the mosque’s imam and community elders, they continue to resist. We are doing everything we can to convince these families to vaccinate their children.”

Leelma warns that any neglect or refusal by families could jeopardize their children’s future.

The duties of Leelma and other vaccinators like her are not limited to mothers. They also educate fathers about the benefits of polio vaccination.

Abdul Rahman, a 58-year-old resident of Herat, is one such father who has been educated by vaccinators and now understands the importance of polio vaccination.

A father of eight, he brought his four-year-old son to the polio vaccination site in Herat’s Ninth District.

With regret, Abdul Rahman says, “My older children were not vaccinated because I lacked awareness about vaccines at the time. Now, I make sure my youngest son is vaccinated regularly to protect him from paralysis.”

He continues, “Ever since I learned that not vaccinating children against polio can lead to paralysis, I ensure my son is vaccinated on time. During every campaign, I bring him to the mosque in the Ninth District, where the polio vaccination site is located.”

Abdul Rahman urges all parents not to delay vaccinating their children so they can be protected from permanent paralysis.

 

The Danger Persists

Although Herat has not reported a single positive case of polio in the past three years, the presence of positive cases in neighboring provinces of Kandahar and Helmand has heightened concerns about the potential resurgence of the virus.

However, mothers like Wajiha and vaccinators like Leelma keep hopes of the complete eradication of the disease alive.

Every child vaccinated is a step toward a brighter future and a polio-free world.

Marzia Frotan, Polio Free Afghanistan