A Young Man’s Inspiring Fight Against Polio
Hosai Ahmadzai
Kabul, Afghanistan – 32-year-old Ubaidullah, carrying a vaccine carrier box on his shoulder, roams the streets in the western outskirts of Kabul with his fellow volunteers, going door-to-door to administer the polio vaccine to children under five years of age.
Having studied up to the 14th grade, Ubaidullah joined the polio eradication program a year ago and now serves as a vaccinator.
He says that he loved serving people since childhood, which is why he chose his current job.
He explained that whether it’s the heat of summer or the cold of winter, he and his colleagues carry out their duties with great responsibility, ensuring that every last child in their area of responsibility receives the polio vaccine.
He stated that polio is a dangerous disease that can lead to paralysis and even death in children, which is why he has dedicated much of his life to fighting this disease.
While administering the polio vaccine to a four-year-old child, Ubaidullah joyfully expressed, “When I vaccinate a child, I feel like I’ve protected the entire world from polio.”
He says that unfortunately there is no cure for polio, and the only way to prevent it is through vaccination, which must be administered to every child under the age of five.
While administering the polio vaccine to a four-year-old child, Ubaidullah joyfully expressed, “When I vaccinate a child, I feel like I’ve protected the entire world from polio.” © Polio free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Hosai Ahmadzai
Ubaidullah, who has faced numerous challenges in his fight against polio, mentioned that some people hold misconceptions about the vaccine and take a hard stance against it. However, he has always explained the benefits of the vaccine to them with patience and kindness.
“There was a family in our village who had fallen prey to misinformation about the polio vaccine and would not vaccinate their children. I visited them and informed the elders about the dangers of polio. After much discussion and reasoning, I was able to convince them to vaccinate their children. That was an unforgettable day in my life,” Ubaidullah recalls.
He also recalled a mother in the same village who was worried about her newborn child, fearing that the vaccine might harm the baby. However, after Ubaidullah explained the benefits of the vaccine to her, she happily agreed to have her child vaccinated.
He said that he will never forget what the mother said to him after her child was vaccinated: “You are the protectors of our children’s health.” This statement, he said, gave him great strength.
Ubaidullah is optimistic about the future. “My greatest wish is for Afghanistan and the world to be free from polio, so no child will ever fall victim to this disease. Every day when I deliver the polio vaccine to every last child in my area, this hope grows stronger, and I become more convinced that this day will definitely come,” he says.
“Children are the future of the country, and if their health is not prioritized and if they are not protected from polio and other diseases, the country will have a bleak future,” he emphasized
He said, “I hope that people understand my message and play their role in the fight against polio.”
Ubaidullah emphasized, “Children are the future of the country, and if their health is not prioritized and they are not protected from polio and other diseases, the country will have a bleak future.” © Polio free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Hosai Ahmadzai
The people in the area also appreciate Ubaidullah’s efforts, saying that his work has had a positive impact on preventing polio in their area.
Gholam Haidar, a 52-year-old resident whose child was vaccinated due to Ubaidullah’s efforts, says, “I didn’t believe in the polio vaccine before, but Ubaidullah gave me a lot of information and explained its benefits to me, convincing me to vaccinate my child.”
He added that now he informs other people in his community about the benefits of the vaccine so that they too vaccinate their children and protect them from polio.
40-year-old Fatima, a mother of seven who lives in the same area, also said that due to the efforts of Ubaidullah and other volunteers like him in the polio vaccination campaign, she regularly vaccinates her three children under the age of five.
“Every time I vaccinate my children during the campaign, I feel reassured that they will be safe from this dangerous disease,” she says.
Thanks to the efforts of Ubaidullah and other volunteers in the polio vaccination campaign, not only have many children been protected from polio, but the youth has also been inspired to follow in their footsteps and join the fight against polio, aiming for a healthy and polio-free Afghanistan.
