Girls with disability determined to raise polio awareness through basketball games
HERAT, Afghanistan – 8th July 2021- A group of young girls, paralyzed by polio disease in their early stages of life have join forces to fight the virus by creating awareness through basketball games in Herat province, western Afghanistan. The group composed of 15 wheelchaired basketball players have participated in a series of games with one goal – to encourage the community to vaccinate their children.
“The basketball games are interesting and pull a lot of crowds,” says Shabana Akbar a talented 24-year-old basketball player. “We are the message to the community, when they look at us, they know polio is real and the same thing can happen to their children if not vaccinated.”
The girl’s initiative to raise polio awareness using the sport has been well received by the community. In a recent basketball match organized at the Quds gymnasium in Herat city to raise awareness before the March/April 2021 campaigns, over 200 mothers and girls were present. The event attracted large crowds and media coverage across the western region.
Shabana Akbari is a change maker, she started to play basketball as early as grade 8.
“Playing basketball gives me comfort and happiness,” says Shaban, now a student at Herat University. “My parents refused to vaccinate me against polio, that’s why I am like this – in a wheelchair! Some people think I live an easy life, but it is very difficult.”
Shabana Akbari basket player Herat province
The Polio programme is supporting the girl’s drive to promote polio eradication in communities the western region.
“We love the sport and we play as much as we can, but our aim is to show the community that polio has no cure and it can only be prevented through vaccination.” Adds Shabana.
