“Fighting Against Polio is My Social Responsibility”
Hosai Ahmadzai
Kabul, Afghanistan – In the Khwaja Ghar village of Deh Sabz district in Kabul, a young man goes door to door, stopping at each doorstep to vaccinate children against polio.
This young man is 25-year-old Obaidullah Faryadi, a resident of the mentioned village, who has been working as a volunteer in the polio vaccination campaign for the past three years.
Faryadi says his goal is to ensure that no child misses out on the polio vaccine and to effectively combat this dangerous disease.
He added that he has been passionate about working in the polio vaccination campaign since childhood.
He said, “Years ago, when I was a child, vaccinators used to come to the village. They would vaccinate me and other children, and I really liked their work. From that time, I dreamed of becoming a vaccinator.”
According to him, now that his dream has come true, he feels that fighting polio has become his social responsibility.
In the Khwaja Ghar village of Deh Sabz district in Kabul, a young man goes door to door, stopping at each doorstep to vaccinate children against polio © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2024 / Hosai Ahmadzai
Faryadi says, “During the polio vaccination campaign, I leave home early every morning with a deep desire in my heart for the health and safety of the children. I want to administer the polio vaccine to every child so that none of them falls victim to this dangerous and deadly disease.”
He considers building good relationships with people the secret to his success in fulfilling this important and significant responsibility. He says, “People in the villages have different opinions about the polio vaccine, but my colleagues and I try to educate them about how dangerous polio is, how children can get infected, and how it can be prevented.”
He believes that this not only makes it easier to vaccinate children against polio but also increases awareness among people about the harms of the disease and the benefits of the vaccine.
He tells families in his message that polio is a viral disease that usually affects children under five years of age. This disease has no cure, but it can be prevented through vaccination.
He said, “With the help of vaccination, almost all the countries have eradicated polio. Unfortunately, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where the virus still threatens children’s lives. It is our collective responsibility to protect our children from this dangerous and deadly disease through vaccination.”
Faryadi says, “During the polio vaccination campaign, I leave home early every morning with a deep desire in my heart for the health and safety of the children. I want to administer the polio vaccine to every child so that none of them falls victim to this dangerous and deadly disease” © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2024 / Hosai Ahmadzai
Bismillah, a resident of Khwaja Ghar village in Deh Sabz district, who has four children, says, “I am very grateful to Obaidullah Faryadi and all those volunteers who go door to door and vaccinate children. They provide a significant service for the health and better future of our children.”
He added that the danger of polio still exists in the area, which can permanently paralyze children. Unfortunately, there is no cure, but administering the polio vaccine safeguards our children from the polio virus.
Bismillah, another resident of the village, says he used to have a different opinion about the polio vaccine, but the volunteers convinced him to vaccinate his children.
He said, “The polio vaccine is a great way to safeguard our children from this terrible disease. The efforts of the volunteers in this regard are commendable.”
