“Afghanistan Should Be Polio-Free Like Other Countries Worldwide”

Marzia Frotan

Badghis, Afghanistan – 34-year-old Mohammad Naeem, with a vaccine carrier box on his shoulder, knocks on the door of a house in Qala-e-Naw, the center of Badghis province, and asks the family elders to bring their children out for vaccination.

He has been working as a vaccinator in Qala-e-Naw for the past four years.

This vaccinator is responsible for going door-to-door in the third district of Qala-e-Naw, vaccinating children under five years old during every polio vaccination campaign.

According to Mohammad Naeem, although there hasn’t been a positive case of polio in Badghis for the past three years, his efforts are focused on preventing its recurrence.

Having studied at the bachelor’s level, he considers the eradication of polio from Afghanistan his greatest wish.

He asserts: “Afghan children should no longer fall victim to polio. Afghanistan should be polio-free, like other countries worldwide.”

As the father of one child himself, he adds that he always strives to ensure that no child in his area of responsibility is left without vaccination. He consistently urges his colleagues to take this matter seriously and try to vaccinate all children.

 

34-year-old Mohammad Naeem, with a vaccine carrier box on his shoulder, knocks on the door of a house in Qala-e-Naw, the center of Badghis province, and asks the family elders to bring their children out for vaccination. © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan

 

Efforts to Permanently Eradicate Polio

Mohammed Naeem says that thanks to the efforts of the vaccinators, Badghis province has not reported a single positive case of polio in the past three years.

Badghis is one of the most vulnerable provinces in the west of Afghanistan. Approximately four years ago, two cases of polio were recorded in the Bala Murghab district of this province.

However, with improved security in the area over the past three years, the polio vaccination campaign has expanded its coverage, leading to a significant reduction in polio cases.

Mohammad Naeem stated that the absence of recorded positive cases in the area is a remarkable achievement for him and other vaccinators.

He added, “Control of the polio virus is the result of the dedicated efforts of vaccinators and other health workers.”

According to this vaccinator, the threat of the polio virus still looms over Badghis, and children should be safeguarded from this deadly disease.

 

Mohammed Naeem vaccinating a child © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan

 

The Key Role of Families

Mohammed Naeem states that it is due to the interest and cooperation of families to vaccinate their children that the polio virus has been controlled.

He said that it is thanks to the interest and cooperation of families that no child in the third district of Qala-e-Naw has been left out of vaccination during his four years of service in the polio campaigns.

He says, “Although people’s interest in vaccinating children in Badghis is high, I still urge families to take vaccination seriously and ensure their children are not deprived of it.”

Mohammad Naeem added that if even one child is left out of vaccination, they will face the threat of polio, and this child can also pose a risk to other children.

He believes that if vaccinators and families both fulfill their responsibility in vaccinating children under the age of five, the polio virus will soon be eradicated from Afghanistan.

 

Saving Children from Permanent Disability

Idris Omari, a 27-year-old resident of Qala-e-Naw city in the center of Badghis and father of two children, is happy that the polio virus has been under control in this province.

He states that due to the efforts of vaccinators and health workers, no child has been infected with polio in Badghis for the past three years.

He added, “The ongoing polio vaccination campaign has ensured the safety of our children. I am very happy that in every campaign, vaccinators come to my door and vaccinate my children.”

According to Omari, the door-to-door vaccination campaign is a great convenience for the people.

He said, “I urge people to cooperate with the vaccinators in vaccinating children.”

Health officials also note that over the past three years, there have been no recorded cases of polio in the western zone, including Badghis, and no positive environmental samples of the poliovirus have been detected.