The helplessness of a child paralyzed by polio changed the course of my life. That day, I decided to become a polio volunteer and help ensure a healthier future for the children in my community.
Paktia, Afghanistan - Several years ago, I saw a five-year-old boy named Omar sitting outside his home on a street in my village. Around him, other children were running and playing, but Omar could only watch.
He longed to run and play like they did, but he could not. Polio had left him unable to use his legs.
I still remember that heartbreaking scene. He said nothing, yet his silence said a great deal. That day, I did not just see a child living with paralysis; I saw a family whose life had been changed by a disease that could have been prevented with just a few drops of vaccination.
That single moment changed the course of my life.
I live in the villages of Orgour and Hilai in Jani Khel District, Paktia Province. I have completed a post-secondary diploma and, for the past five years, have worked as a volunteer with the polio program.
People sometimes ask me why I chose this path.
My answer is always the same: when a child contracts polio and becomes paralyzed, it is not only the child who suffers; the entire family faces hardship. I have seen firsthand the lives of children in my community who, because of polio, could not run like other children, could not easily go to school, and missed out on many of the joys of childhood.
That was when I said to myself that if there was anything I could do to prevent another child from suffering the same fate, I should do it.
I came to realize that while many diseases can be treated, polio is different. Once a child is infected and becomes paralyzed, there is no recovery. The most effective way to protect children is to prevent the disease, and preventing polio is only possible through vaccination.
It was with this conviction that I joined the polio program as a volunteer.
For Hedayatullah, serving the children of his community is not just a job, it is a human responsibility.
© Polio Free Afghanistan | 2026
Building trust matters as much as the vaccine itself
On campaign days, I go to polio vaccination sites early in the morning and begin work together with my colleagues. Alongside vaccinating children, I talk with families when needed, encourage them to have their children vaccinated, answer their questions and concerns, and try to strengthen their trust in the polio vaccine.
In remote areas, some families still have questions and concerns about vaccination. I try to listen to them first.
When people feel that someone is genuinely listening to their concerns, trust gradually begins to build.
Then, I calmly explain that the polio vaccine is safe and can protect their children from lifelong paralysis.
Often, the very father or mother who was worried at first chooses to have their child vaccinated with confidence by the end of our conversation. Moments like these are the greatest reward for the work I do.
The moments that make every effort worthwhile
Whenever a family confidently chooses to have their child vaccinated, I feel that our efforts are making a real difference.
For me, this is not simply about giving a few drops of vaccine; it is about helping secure a child's healthy future and strengthening a family's confidence and hope.
This belief gives me the strength to continue my work in every campaign with the same dedication and commitment.
I believe that eradicating polio is not the responsibility of health workers alone. When community leaders, religious scholars, volunteers, and families work together, more children are protected, and we move one step closer to a polio-free future.
Afghanistan remains one of the few countries in the world where the poliovirus has not yet been fully eradicated. That is why every polio vaccination campaign is so important, especially in remote areas where access to health services is limited.
In my view, success in this fight does not depend on vaccine delivery alone. The trust of families, the support of the community, and a shared commitment to protecting every child's future all play an equally important role.
Hedayatullah strives to ensure that no child is left without the polio vaccine during every campaign.
© Polio Free Afghanistan | 2026
The hope that stays with me every day
My family's support has also played an important role in this journey. They have always reminded me that protecting children's health is a service to the community. Their encouragement gives me the strength to keep going.
Every time the last child receives the vaccine at the end of a campaign, Omar's face comes to mind.
I cannot help but wonder: if Omar had received the polio vaccine in time, perhaps today he would be running and playing alongside the other children on that same street.
That thought reminds me every day of the responsibility I carry.
I hope the day comes when no child, like Omar, has to sit and watch other children play. Every child deserves a healthy, active, and hopeful future.
Until that day comes, I will continue my work because I believe the vaccine does more than prevent disease. It protects a child's ability to run, play, dream, and preserves a family's hopes for the future.
