Wurduj Mothers: Polio’s Silent Heroes
Raqiba Hamidi
Badakhshan, Afghanistan – Access to adequate healthcare services in remote and hard-to-reach areas of the country can change the lives and futures of many children and families. The Wurduj District Health Center in Badakhshan is one such vital center that saves children’s lives and promotes community health by providing vaccination and other healthcare services.
Habiba, a 35-year-old resident of the district, says, “I have three children under the age of five; my eldest is 4-year-old Adeeba, my middle child is 2-year-old Haleem, and my youngest is 1-year-old Haseeba. Since they were born one after the other, their care and upbringing are very important to me.”
Habiba, who has come to the Wurduj Health Center from the village of Hakim Jan, is pleased with the services at the center. “The services at this health center are very good, the doctors and nurses treat us well and are always ready to help us,” she says.
She added, “Vaccines for polio and other diseases greatly benefit the health and future of children, and I am very happy that I can access these services close to home.”
Access to adequate healthcare services in remote and hard-to-reach areas of the country can change the lives and futures of many children and families. © Polio Free Afghanistan /2024/ Raqiba Hamidi
Habiba urged all mothers in Wurduj District to bring their children under the age of five to this health center for polio vaccination, as it protects them from diseases and ensures their healthy future.
Another resident of Wurduj District, 50-year-old Alia, says, “I have a daughter and a son; my daughter is 4 years old, and my son is 1 year old, and I always pay attention to their health and well-being.”
She, too, has visited the health center from the village of Deira and is satisfied with the healthcare services provided there.
“This health center is the closest to where we live, and we regularly come here. I am very pleased with the healthcare services, especially the vaccination services, because they have kept my children safe from dangerous diseases,” she said.
Alia added, “In the past, when there was no health center here, I was always worried about the health and future of my children. My biggest concern was the lack of access to the polio vaccine because it is very important and protects children from this dangerous disease.”
The Wurduj District Health Center in Badakhshan is one such vital center that saves children’s lives and promotes community health by providing vaccination and other healthcare services. © Polio Free Afghanistan /2024/ Raqiba Hamidi
She also advises other mothers to make good use of the services at this health center and vaccinate their children on time.
Mohammad Qassim Khaksar, a 60-year-old vaccinator at the Wurduj District Health Center, says, “This health center was established in 2002 and has been providing free vaccines to children for several years.”
He adds that 13 types of vaccines are administered to patients at this health center, including vaccines for polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, measles, tetanus for children and mothers, hepatitis B, and pneumonia.
People from central villages such as Chakran, Deira, Markan, Ab Jin, Meleh, Tarang Shaghan, Hakim Jan, as well as from distant villages like Alakhcha, Pas Bagh, Isagan, Utraj, Khus, Rakhshan, Rughchan, and others, come to this clinic to vaccinate their children.
The healthcare activities at the Wurduj Health Center have played a significant role in reducing preventable diseases in the community and raising awareness among the people.
Services like those provided at the Wurduj Health Center are an inspiring example of tireless efforts to improve the health status of communities in remote areas of the country.
The collective message from the mothers is that the services of this health center should continue so that Wurduj District becomes free from preventable diseases like polio.
