A polio victim; A frontline fighter against polio

Marzia Frotan

Herat, Afghanistan – Abdul Rahman Saifi, with a cane in one hand and a vaccine carrier box in the other, goes door-to-door immunizing children under the age of five through vaccination.

This 45-year-old man serves as a vaccinator in a remote area of western Herat city. During his childhood, his leg was paralyzed due to polio, and he has been walking with the aid of a cane ever since.

He shares that the pain and hardship inflicted by this unfortunate disease compelled him to take a stand on the front lines of the battle against polio. His mission: to prevent children from enduring a similar fate.

For the past fifteen years, he has worked as a vaccinator in the Polio Eradication Program. During each campaign, he diligently goes door-to-door, ensuring that children receive vaccinations.

“My personal experience with this perilous disease fuels my dedication to the polio program. I aim to protect children, ensuring they are safeguarded from this disabling illness and granting them the ability to walk and play freely,” he stated.

 

Abdul Rahman Saifi, with a cane in one hand and a vaccine carrier box in the other, goes door-to-door immunizing children under the age of five through vaccination. © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 1402/ Marzia Frotan

 

He visits every house, sharing his own experience with polio. Through his example, he urges families to immunize their children, safeguarding them from this perilous disease.

Abdul Rahman’s dedicated participation in the vaccination campaign as a vaccinator, along with his unwavering efforts to motivate families to vaccinate their children, has yielded remarkable results. Every family within his designated area has ensured the vaccination of all their children under the age of five.

Mohammad Iqbal, a 38-year-old resident of the area and a father of three children, shares that witnessing the determination of Abdul Rahman working for children’s well-being has inspired him to prioritize the vaccination of his children.

“This dedicated vaccinator, who himself is disabled, tirelessly works to safeguard our children. We deeply appreciate his compassion and unwavering commitment, and we always support him,” he added.

He urges families to observe Abdul Rahman’s condition and prevent their children from suffering the same disability. We must all work together and eradicate polio in Afghanistan.

 

Abdul Rahman Saifi administering the polio vaccine to a child in western Herat. © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 1402/ Marzia Frotan

 

Mohammed Iqbal, who previously had little knowledge about the benefits of the polio vaccine and didn’t vaccinate his children regularly, now ensures that they receive vaccination during every polio vaccination campaign due to increased awareness from Adbul Rahman.

Another resident of the area, 27-year-old Ramin, mentions that their community mainly comprises of refugees and individuals from remote districts many of whom were previously unaware of the importance and benefits of vaccination. However, thanks to Abdul Rahman’s relentless efforts, they now vaccinate their children during polio vaccination campaigns.

He emphasized, “Despite his disability and difficulty in walking, he actively engages with children. His deep affection for children resonates, and families eagerly bring their children to him for vaccination.”

Ramin further stated that all families have a responsibility toward their children and should vaccinate them in every campaign to prevent them from contracting polio and becoming disabled like Abdul Rahman.

Ahmad Waheed Rahmani, overseeing the Vaccination Program in the Western Zone, aims to involve disabled individuals more actively in the upcoming polio vaccination campaigns.

“Individuals with disabilities play a crucial role in motivating families to vaccinate their children and ensuring the successful execution of the campaign. Their presence in campaigns sends a clear message to families: if they do not vaccinate their children, they might face a similar fate,” he added.

He emphasizes that individuals who have experienced the effects of polio firsthand are deeply committed to vaccinating children. Their empathy arises from the pain and suffering they endured due to this disease, and as a result, they passionately advocate for safeguarding children from enduring permanent disability.

Abdul Rahman is one of the thousands of people in Afghanistan who contracted polio about forty years ago.

Over the past two decades, thanks to the support of international aid agencies, the number of polio cases in the country has steadily decreased year by year.

The decline in both human and environmental polio cases in the western zone of the country over the past three years serves as a clear testament to the collective efforts made.