Zahidullah Hamdard: The Young Man Protecting Children from Polio
Kabul, Afghanistan – Zahidullah Hamdard, a resident of the Paktiakot area in Kabul city, is an indefatigable fighter in the administering of polio vaccines.
At 30 years old, he has completed an associate degree in laboratory sciences and has been working for the past 11 years as a supervisor for a polio vaccination team.
Motivation for Beginning the Fight Against Polio
“Since childhood, I have heard stories of children paralyzed due to polio,” Zahidullah Hamdard says. “This gave me the feeling that I must play my part in ensuring the health, progress, and future of my community’s children.”
Referring to the dangers of polio, he adds, “Polio is an incurable and deadly disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. It is our responsibility to prevent this disease and encourage people to vaccinate their children.”
Community Support and Challenges
Zahidullah works in an area where the level of public awareness is relatively high. As a result, his meetings with local and tribal leaders and mosque imams are very productive. He states that people fully cooperate with him in administering the vaccine.
“In the past eleven years, I have encountered only a few families who refused to vaccinate their children. However, with patience and perseverance, I was able to educate and convince them, and now they eagerly vaccinate their children against polio,” he adds.
Zahidullah Hamdard is a living example among the thousands of volunteers fighting against polio for the health of the children in their community, ensuring they remain safe from the threat of the disease. © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2025
The Impact of the Fight
In the Paktiakot region, the level of public awareness continually rises with each campaign.
Zahidullah states that through the efforts of volunteers and social mobilizers, people’s perceptions have changed, and their understanding of the importance of the polio vaccine has significantly improved.
One such individual is tribal leader Haji Mohammad Naeem, who considers polio vaccination a crucial necessity for children’s health.
He says, “I urge all families to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine during every campaign. Every child should have access to healthcare services, as it is their fundamental right.”
What Do Health Experts Say?
A local healthcare professional, Dr. Sayed Malok Safi, considers the role of volunteers in the fight against polio to be crucial. “It is due to the tireless efforts of volunteers that no child in this area is left unvaccinated; this is a significant advancement in the fight against polio,” he says.
“The presence of the poliovirus poses a major threat to the entire region. Just two drops of the vaccine can save children from this disease,” he adds.
Hope and Change
Zahidullah Hamdard is a living example among the thousands of volunteers fighting against polio for the health of the children in their community, ensuring they remain safe from the threat of the disease.
While polio still endangers the future of Afghan children, Zahidullah and other volunteers like him serve as beacons of hope. Their dedication, perseverance, and sacrifices will one day free the country from the poliovirus, ensuring that no child ever falls victim to this disease again.
