Mohammad Bashir: A Dedicated Polio Vaccination Campaign Volunteer
Hosai Ahmadzai
Kabul, Afghanistan – Mohammad Bashir, a resident of Kabul’s 5th district, is one of the dedicated volunteers of the polio vaccination campaign. For the past six years, he has been working with a deep sense of mission, ensuring that no child in his designated area is deprived of the polio vaccine.
A graduate of Nangarhar University’s Public Administration department, Bashir manages his own business while actively participating in the polio vaccination efforts.
The Value of Polio Vaccination
Mohammad Bashir believes that vaccinating children is a crucial responsibility, and he feels personally accountable to ensure every child in his area receives the polio vaccine. Each day during the campaign, he leaves home early in the morning and works tirelessly until evening to ensure that every child is vaccinated. He is responsible for a specific area in Kabul’s 5th district and vaccinates up to 135 children daily.
Building Relationships with the Community
Bashir adds that after years of dedicated service in the polio campaign, he has gained the respect and recognition of both the elders and youth in his community.
He says that due to his commitment, people not only respect him but also eagerly bring their children to him for two drops of the polio vaccine during each campaign.
Mohammad Bashir believes that vaccinating children is a crucial responsibility, and he feels personally accountable to ensure every child in his area receives the polio vaccine. Each day during the campaign, he leaves home early in the morning and works tirelessly until evening to ensure that every child is vaccinated. © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Hosai Ahmadzai
Challenges and Achievements
One of Bashir’s significant achievements in his six years of voluntary service has been convincing various families to vaccinate their children against polio. Many of these families had misconceptions about the vaccine, often influenced by misinformation. Through persistent communication, he has successfully changed their minds, ensuring that their children receive the vaccine.
Strategies for Persuading People
Bashir employs several strategies to persuade hesitant families. He explains, “When I encounter a reluctant family member, I speak to them kindly, providing accurate information to dispel their doubts about the polio vaccine.” He adds, “I always tell family elders that polio is a deadly and paralyzing disease with no cure. However, it can be prevented through vaccination. If we do not vaccinate our children, they risk contracting polio, which can result in death or permanent disability, burdening the family and society.”
Hopes for the Future
Bashir’s greatest hope as a volunteer in the polio vaccination campaign is to see Afghanistan declared polio-free one day, ensuring that no child ever suffers from this debilitating disease. He said, “My ultimate dream is for Afghan children to be as healthy as children elsewhere in the world, free from the threat of the polio virus.”
The Story of Mohammad Qasem
Mohammad Qasem, a community elder in Kabul’s 5th district with three daughters and two sons, recalls being skeptical about the polio vaccine, sometimes vaccinating his children and sometimes not. However, after Mohammad Bashir and other campaign workers met with him personally and educated him on the vaccine’s importance, his mindset changed. Mohammed Qasem states that now he regularly vaccinates his children, never missing a dose.
He adds, “I always tell family elders that polio is a deadly and paralyzing disease with no cure. However, it can be prevented through vaccination. If we do not vaccinate our children, they risk contracting polio, which can result in death or permanent disability, burdening the family and society.” © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Hosai Ahmadzai
Conclusion
Mohammad Bashir and other volunteers tirelessly work day and night to eradicate polio in Afghanistan, considering it both a religious and national duty. They urge all families to fulfill their religious and national obligations by supporting the volunteers and ensuring their children receive the polio vaccine, safeguarding the health of all children in the country.
