On the Frontline; Efforts to Protect Children
Paktika, Afghanistan — The first rays of morning had yet to light the dusty alleys of Laman village in the Angoor Adda area of Barmal district, Paktika, when a 28-year-old volunteer named Azizullah arrived at the polio vaccination site along with his fellow team members.
This area lies at the zero point of the so-called Durand Line, home to the Wazir, Mehsud, Zadran, and Ahmadzai tribes.
The constant movement of people across both sides of the border, combined with limited access to healthcare, has significantly increased the risk of poliovirus transmission in this region.
Protecting the Children of Returning Families
Some elders from families who had recently returned from the Wanna region of Waziristan had arrived at the polio vaccination site with their children, while others were still on their way.
Azizullah and his team began their work. With warmth in his voice and a gentle smile, he turned to the first child in line and said:
“Open your mouth!”
The child, seeing the kindness and reassurance in the vaccinator’s face, smiled softly and opened his mouth. With great care, Azizullah administered two drops of the polio vaccine to him.
Azizullah administers the polio vaccine to the child of a returning family in Laman village, Barmal District © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2025
A Sense of Duty
Fully aware of the importance of his duty, Azizullah says: “This area stands on the frontline of the fight against polio. It is my responsibility — and that of my fellow team members — to vaccinate all the children from returning families, so we can prevent the spread of this dangerous virus.”
He added that if, God forbid, the poliovirus spreads in the area through returning families, it could pose a serious threat to the lives of many children.
“Every time I administer drops of the vaccine to a child,” he said, “I feel as if I’ve saved a life.”
Azizullah’s colleague, 25-year-old Attaullah, also says that fighting polio is no easy task. He explains that if children are not vaccinated on time, the virus could, God forbid, leave many of them paralyzed — or even claim their lives. That’s why, he says, we must stay alert and active.
Administering the polio vaccine to a four-year-old child, he said: “Polio is a hidden, silent enemy. Children are our future, and it is our duty to protect that future from the threat of this disease.”
Community Support
Local residents appreciate the efforts of the volunteers and regard them with respect.
Noor Wali Khan, who recently arrived with his family from South Waziristan, says: “Many volunteers have been deployed in the border area of Angoor Adda to vaccinate the children of returning families. This is a great service — it protects not only my children, but the children of others from the dangers of the poliovirus.”
Another local elder, Haji Alf Khan, says: “We must all support these young volunteers, because the fight against polio is not just their job; it is a shared social responsibility for everyone.”
He calls on the people and adds, “Let us come together and take part in this effort to protect our children and to save our country from the devastation of polio.”
Concerns of Health Experts
Public health specialist Dr. Hashim warns: “There is a heightened need for continuous campaigns in border areas because cross-border movement has sharply raised the risk of polio transmission.”
He emphasizes that polio can only be prevented if no child is left unvaccinated.
Azizullah administering the vaccine to a child. © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2025
Rays of Hope
At the end of the day, when Azizullah and his colleagues’ vaccine boxes are emptied and the afternoon sun slowly disappears behind the mountains, they feel not fatigue, but a deep sense of joy and pride.
“If I’ve secured the future of even one child, that alone is a tremendous success for me,” says Azizullah. “I will keep delivering vaccine drops to children until Afghanistan is completely free from the threat of polio.”
Azizullah and his colleagues’ fight continues. They are determined to ensure that no child ever falls victim to polio again.
