Kala Khan’s Daily Struggle Against Polio and Poverty

Ghazni, Afghanistan – It’s a clear morning, and the rising sun behind the mountains illuminates everything with its rays. In an alley in Yahya Khel district, Paktika province, an old wheelbarrow stands in front of a school, surrounded by children.

Behind the wheelbarrow stands a disabled young man, pouring rice into plates with a kind smile on his face as he sells it to the children. This is 17-year-old Kala Khan, who contracted polio at the age of three, which not only paralyzed both of his legs but also weakened his arms.

Kala Khan is the only son of his biological mother and has six stepsisters and two stepbrothers. One of his stepbrothers lost his life in a mine explosion a few years ago. Kala Khan was four years old when his father and biological mother passed away.

Kala Khan says, “When I was a child, my family didn’t prioritize the polio vaccine. They didn’t vaccinate me, and that’s why I contracted this disease and have been facing countless challenges and hardships ever since.”

He manages his daily tasks with the help of his hands, though they too are weakened by polio. The disease also paralyzed his legs in childhood, but his determination far exceeds these challenges. He works tirelessly to provide for his family, and his disability has never stopped him from achieving his goals.

 

This is 17-year-old Kala Khan, who contracted polio at the age of three, which not only paralyzed his legs but also weakened his arms © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Rahmatullah Marjankhil

 

Sitting next to his stepmother, he says with tearful eyes: “I barely remember my father. He used to carry me in his arms. Life was hard for our family, but despite everything, we have come to this unfortunate state and I can only cover half of my family’s expenses.”

He adds that now, with his stepmother’s help, he prepares a pot of rice, places it on his wheelbarrow, and sells it to students near the school.

His struggles, however, extend beyond poverty and disability. Every day, he endures hurtful remarks and mistreatment from his community.

He said in a choked voice, “When I see the schoolboys, I feel distressed and think to myself, I wish there were someone else in the house who could provide for us so that I could have gone to school too. Unfortunately, poverty and disability have severely impacted my life.”

Kala Khan doesn’t just talk about his personal struggles; he shares his painful story with everyone, hoping to save others from going through the same challenges.

“Polio is a very dangerous disease; it not only destroys the body but also shatters a person’s dreams. I want everyone to know that if they don’t vaccinate their children, they will contract polio, leading to permanent disability or even death,” he says.

His mother, who is very distressed by his situation, says that Kala Khan has been living with disability and hardships for the past 14 years, and their entire family suffers with him.

 

Kala Khan has an important message for everyone: “Polio doesn’t just cripple the body, it crushes all hopes in life. I don’t want anyone else to end up like me. Vaccinate your children and save their future from this cruel disease.” © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Rahmatullah Marjankhil

 

“Losing my husband and son was tough to face for a while, but Kala Khan’s condition deeply hurts me all the time. Whenever I see the hardships he faces, I try hard to ensure the other children in the household receive their polio vaccines on time,” she adds.

With great pride, Kala Khan’s mother says, “Every morning, as soon as we eat breakfast at sunrise, I place a pot of cooked rice in the wheelbarrow, and he takes it to the school. When he returns in the afternoon with empty pots and a pocket full of money, it brings us great joy.”

“If Kala Khan hadn’t contracted polio, our life wouldn’t have been as difficult as it is now. But even now, we are grateful that he hasn’t had to beg to anyone for help,” she adds.

Kala Khan’s mother urges families not to neglect the polio vaccine and to vaccinate their children on time so that they don’t suffer her son’s fate.

Kala Khan’s 53-year-old neighbor, Gul Shah Khan, says that he has seen the family’s condition up close, and it deeply saddens him. He explains that the family lives in a poor economic state, and their only working son has been disabled by polio.

Gul Shah Khan also stresses the importance of vaccination, urging families not to neglect their children’s health and future, and to vaccinate them against polio during childhood to safeguard them from this terrible disease.

This story is not just a portrayal of Kala Khan’s struggle but also a crucial message for society, illustrating how neglecting to vaccinate children can lead to devastating and lifelong consequences.

Kala Khan has an important message for everyone: “Polio doesn’t just cripple the body, it crushes all hopes in life. I don’t want anyone else to end up like me. Vaccinate your children and save their future from this cruel disease.”

 

By Rahmatullah Marjankhil, Polio Free Afghanistan