Mohammad Imran: A Tireless Fighter Against Polio

Nangarhar, Afghanistan – The morning sun had barely spread its light over the village of Khogakhel in the Ghoshta district when Mohammad Imran slung the vaccination box over his shoulder and stepped out of his home.

Walking with determined strides towards his goal, he saw children playing joyfully in front of their houses in the narrow alleys of the village.

Seeing this scene filled him with joy, and he thought to himself: “I am carrying out an important responsibility. If these children are not protected from polio, their joy may one day be silenced.”

Mohammad Imran, nearly 30 years old, has been working as an active vaccinator in this region for the past six years.

Having studied nursing, he has chosen to administer polio vaccines to children in his community over any other profession.

Today marks the first day of the polio vaccination campaign, and as usual, it’s a very important day for him.

Upon reaching the polio vaccination site, Muhammad Imran’s colleagues also arrived and together they began preparing to vaccinate the children.

Groups of parents from the village were heading toward the vaccination site with their children in tow.

Imran, gently administering two drops of the polio vaccine into each child’s mouth, said: “When I first started working as a vaccinator about six years ago, many parents refused to vaccinate their children. They didn’t believe that these two drops could protect their children from polio. Some even saw it as a foreign practice.”

But he did not lose patience. Along with his colleagues, he constantly explained the dangers of polio and the benefits of vaccination, gradually changing people’s mindsets.

“Our years of efforts were not in vain. Today, Khogakhel is among the areas where vaccine refusal has significantly decreased. You can see how groups of parents come with great enthusiasm and vaccinate their children,” he said.

Mohammad Imran says that people now greatly assist him in every polio vaccination campaign: “Everyone in the alleys of Khogakhel knows me, trust me, and even help me find and convince families that still have doubts about the vaccine.”

 

Mohammad Imran, nearly 30 years old, has been working as an active vaccinator in Ghoshta District for the past six years. Polio Free Afghanistan / 2025 / Fazal Mohammad Hosaini

 

A Living Example of Change

Ghulam Hazrat was once among the residents of Khogakhel who considered polio vaccination a foreign conspiracy. “I used to think the polio vaccine was against our religious and cultural values, but Mohammad Imran patiently helped me understand the truth. Now, not only do I vaccinate my own children, but I also encourage others to do the same.”

In his message to the people, he says that polio is a dangerous disease that causes paralysis and even death in children. Unfortunately, this disease has no cure, but it can only be prevented by vaccination, so parents should not endanger the lives of their children due to their ignorance.

Mohammad Imran’s colleagues, who stand shoulder to shoulder with him in polio vaccination campaigns, praise his dedication and efforts.

Mohammad Anwar, who was marking the children’s fingers with a marker after vaccination, said, “Mohammad Imran is an experienced and hardworking volunteer who, over the past six years, has exerted immense effort in preventing polio and has safeguarded the lives of hundreds of children in Ghoshta district.”

He added that Imran is not just a vaccinator but also an advocate for awareness. He consistently held meetings with local elders, religious scholars, and youth to highlight the harms of polio. The outcome of these efforts is that now the people of Khogakhel support polio vaccination campaigns.

Mahmood, head of the Khogakhel local hospital, says, “Volunteers like Mohammad Imran secure the future of our children. Without them, the fight against polio would be incomplete.”

Similarly, Dr. Sahil Azizi, who works in the field of polio prevention, adds, “Polio is a viral and incurable disease, but giving a child two drops of the vaccine in each campaign can protect him from this disease.”

 

A Hopeful Future

For Mohammad Imran, the greatest reward is that his community now trusts vaccinations and helps him prevent polio.

His efforts prove that one person’s commitment to the betterment of society can bring about significant change.

Now, the children of Khogakhel have not only laughter but also a safe future.

 

Fazal Mohammad Hosaini, Polio Free Afghanistan