Efforts to save Afghanistan’s ‘future’ from disability; Abdulbari Commutes 10 Kilometers Daily on His Bicycle for This Purpose

Rahmatullah Marjankhil

Ghazni, Afghanistan: Abdul Bari, a 40-year-old resident of Ghazni province, Commutes 10 kilometers on his bicycle every day from Esfande village to Ghazni city to deliver polio vaccine to children and save them from this dangerous disease.

Every morning except Friday, at sunrise, he ties his green vaccine carrier box full of vaccines to the corner of his old bicycle and goes to the Taxi stand of Qarabagh and Waghaz districts in Ghazni city. There, he provides vaccines to the children who come with their families from these districts.

Abdul Bari, a volunteer of the polio vaccination team, leaving his home for work © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Marjankhel

 

Honorable job

Abdul Bari, who has worked as a vaccinator for the past three years, proudly states: “I am honored to serve as a polio vaccine volunteer, contributing to the eradication of polio and safeguarding the future of our country from disability.”

He, also a father of six children, adds that he feels immense joy on the days when he vaccinates numerous children.

“Every morning at seven o’clock, I get on my old bicycle and go to the Taxi stand of Qarabagh and Waghaz districts in Ghazni city, 10 kilometers away from my home, and there until late in the evening I give anti-polio vaccine to the children coming from these districts.”

According to him, he does his job very well, whether it’s cold or hot, and he never feels tired or fatigued.

He says that many families call from behind and ask him to vaccinate their children, but there are also families who have been exposed to rumors and misinformation and do not vaccinate their children

According to him, this troubles him significantly because these families are putting their children’s health at risk. However, he is actively trying to convince them, making them understand the value of vaccine and urging them to vaccinate their children

“There are days when he vaccinates more than 20 or 50 children, but there are also days when he vaccinates just a handful. ” Says Abdul Bari.

 

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented with two drops of the vaccine

Abdul Bari says that parents are responsible for the healthy future of their children and any negligence on their part in this regard is a sin.

“Unfortunately, there are many parents around the country who do not vaccinate their children against polio, and by doing this, they are not only endangering the health of their own children but also the lives of other children.”

He adds that, on one hand, the polio vaccination campaign is implemented in different regions of the country every month. On the other hand, mobile teams have been deployed in different regions to vaccinate children who travel with their families from one region to another.

He considers this a great opportunity and requests families to take advantage of it, to vaccinate their children under the age of five, as polio has no cure and can only be prevented through vaccination.

Every morning, except on Fridays, at sunrise, Abdulbari ties a green vaccine carrier box full of vaccines to the corner of his old bicycle and heads to the taxi stand of Qarabagh and Waghaz districts in Ghazni city. There, he provides vaccines to children who come from these districts with their families. © Polio free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Marjankhel

 

Abdul Bari’s efforts to prevent polio are heroic

22-year-old Haseebullah (Abdul Bari’s nephew) says, every morning, my uncle goes to a designated place on his bicycle with great effort and difficulty for the well-being of the country’s children. His work is nothing short of heroic.”

He wants people to not only cooperate with but also respect his uncle and other volunteers like him for this noble cause.

Mohammad Nabi, a driver from Waghaz district, recognizes and praises Abdul Bari’s commitment and efforts in ensuring a healthy future for children.

“Abd al-Bari works tirelessly as a compassionate member of society. He goes to each car separately and administers vaccines to children under the age of five. It is important for people to assist him in this noble work.”

Saaduddin, the head of the mobile team for polio vaccination volunteers, mentioned that to vaccinate the children who were missed during the polio vaccination campaign, mobile teams, with the assistance of partner agencies, have been stationed at car stops. Of which Abdul Bari is an essential member.

Abdul Bari giving polio vaccine to children © Polio free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Marjankhel

 

What sets Abdul Bari apart is his dedication to his work. Every morning, he travels from the distant Esfande village of Ghazni city to the taxi stand of Waghaz and Qarabagh districts. From 8 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, he tirelessly administers vaccines.

He says that polio is a fatal and paralyzing disease that has no cure but can only be prevented by vaccine.

Although polio has been eradicated in the rest of the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where the polio virus threatens the lives of children.

In 2023, six cases of polio were reported in Afghanistan, all of which were in Nangarhar province.