Herat on High Alert: Strengthening Measures to Prevent the Spread of Polio
Marzia Frotan
Herat, Afghanistan – Shahnaz Haidari knocks on a door in the Bakar Abad area of Herat city, asking the family elders to bring their children under the age of five for vaccination.
This 24-year-old vaccinator has been working with the polio eradication program in Herat for the past three years, vaccinating children. However, this time in the campaign she is taking the vaccination of children much more seriously than before.
According to Shahnaz, after the positive cases of polio were recorded in Kandahar, she is concerned about the spread of this virus in Herat.
She added, “Since I learned that some children in Kandahar have been infected with polio, I have been deeply worried. My colleagues and I are doing everything we can to ensure that no child in Herat contracts polio.”
She said, “I urge aid organizations and the Ministry of Health to conduct more vaccination campaigns in areas at risk to prevent the spread of the polio virus.”
Shahnaz Haidari knocks on a door in the Bakar Abad area of Herat City, asking the family elders to bring their children under the age of five for vaccination © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan
Alarm Bells
Local officials in Kandahar have confirmed that recently two cases of polio have been recorded in the province.
According to a source from the Province’s Health Department, a four-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl have been infected with polio in the districts of Arghistan and Shah Wali Kot and have been paralyzed.
According to the source, these two children had recently returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan with their families.
Based on information from the World Health Organization, four cases of polio have been recorded in Kandahar this year.
The positive polio cases in Kandahar have caused concern among people in Herat and neighboring provinces.
Another vaccinator in Herat city, named Sara Mohammadi, said that the polio virus poses a greater threat to children in Afghanistan, especially in the western region, than ever before.
She added, “The positive cases of polio in Kandahar have worried me. I am doing my best to ensure that no child in my area of responsibility is left unvaccinated.”
She considered polio a real threat to Herat province and urged families to regularly vaccinate their children under the age of five, as missing even one child increases the risk of the disease.
Along with the recent polio cases in Kandahar, an emergency polio vaccination campaign has been launched in the Injil and Shindand districts of Herat, vaccinating more than 200,000 children so far © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Marzia Frotan
Public Fear
The recent polio cases in Kandahar have worried the residents of Herat. According to the citizens, due to the daily movement of thousands of people between Herat and Kandahar, there is a possibility of the polio virus being transmitted between the two provinces.
A 40-year-old resident of Herat city, Khair Mohammad, who is also the father of two children, says he is concerned about their health.
He added, “Even though I vaccinate my children in every campaign, I am still afraid that the polio virus might be transmitted to Herat and put my children’s lives at risk.”
He believes that the occurrence of polio cases in the country is concerning and urges he aid organizations and the government to pay more attention to the immunization of children.
Along with the recent polio cases in Kandahar, an emergency polio vaccination campaign has been launched in the Injil and Shindand districts of Herat, vaccinating more than 200,000 children so far.
