A Young Man’s Efforts to End Polio
Asminullah Sahil is leading a fight against polio in Nadir Shah Kot District of Khost province that has protected children from the threat of paralysis and inspired new hope for a safer future in people’s hearts.
Khost, Afghanistan – Early in the morning, in a small village in Nadir Shah Kot District of Khost province, before the sun has cast its rays, Asminullah Sahil opens the door of his home. He lifts his blue vaccine box, filled with vials of polio drops, onto his shoulder and sets off toward his goal.
Every step he takes is part of a larger fight—one that protects the future of the country’s children.
Sahil, who is only 25 years old, is one of thousands of Afghan youth who have dedicated their lives to the fight against polio.
“I have seen many children who were paralyzed because they weren’t vaccinated,” he says. “I don’t want any more children in our country to suffer the same fate.”
He works as a vaccinator in the Nawi Kot Lalmay, Dakhili Lalmay, and Dakhili Zorr Kalay areas of Nadir Shah Kot District.
Alongside his team, Sahil begins work at 7 a.m. during polio vaccination campaigns and continues until evening, eagerly vaccinating children at designated sites to protect them from lifelong paralysis.
But misconceptions about the polio vaccine have made his job difficult. However, Sahil knows that patience, kindness, and consistent effort are the key to success.
“When a family has doubts about the vaccine, I visit them again and again and speak with them patiently. When they finally understand the value of vaccination and allow their children to be vaccinated, it becomes a moment of great delight for me,” he says.
Alongside his team, Sahil begins work at 7 a.m. during polio vaccination campaigns and continues until evening, eagerly vaccinating children at designated sites to protect them from lifelong paralysis. © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2025
Sahil is not alone in this fight. He works in coordination with local religious scholars, health officials, and community elders to create a supportive environment for vaccination.
As a result of this joint cooperation, people’s perceptions have started to shift positively—doubts have decreased, and their trust in the vaccine has grown.
The village elder, Haji Jummah Noor, describes Sahil as a hardworking young man from their village and says, “When polio vaccination campaigns begin, Sahil works hard with his team to ensure that every child is vaccinated and that none are left behind.”
Another resident of the area, young Musafar, who has been inspired by Sahil’s efforts, says, “If every young person were as committed to their duty as Sahil, our country would soon be free from polio and other diseases.”
Sahil’s story is not just the story of a young volunteer—it is the story of a man who is making extraordinary efforts for the future of his people and his country.
Thanks to Asminullah Sahil’s dedication and tireless efforts, children in the villages of Nadir Shah Kot District are now moving toward a healthy and brighter future, a future in which polio will be nothing more than a forgotten memory.
