Shabnam Yousafzai’s Dream: Eradication of Poliovirus from Afghanistan
Raqiba Hamidi
Kunduz, Afghanistan – Shabnam Yousafzai, a resident of Kunduz province and a social mobilizer in the polio vaccination campaign, says that her only wish is the eradication of the poliovirus from Afghanistan.
She who is 22 years old completed her high school education at Bibi Khadija Al-Kubra High School and completed her semi-high education in midwifery at the Hikmat Institute.
Having worked as a vaccinator in the polio eradication program for about four years, she now serves as a social mobilizer.
Every morning at eight o’clock, Shabnam Yousafzai leaves home in a black hijab and goes from house to house in her area of responsibility until noon, educating numerous families about polio vaccination.
She adds that through her continuous efforts and hard work, she has been able to educate several families about the importance of vaccination. She says that, fortunately, all the families in her area of responsibility happily vaccinate their children during every campaign.
Regarding her work, she acknowledges that there are problems and challenges in every job, but she persists and does not lose her courage.
Every morning at eight o’clock, Shabnam Yousafzai leaves home in a black hijab and goes from house to house in her area of responsibility until noon, educating numerous families about polio vaccination © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Raqiba Hamidi
She mentioned that while working in the community, she encounters people with various mindsets and thoughts, and some look down on her work. However, her job is invaluable to her because she safeguards the children from the dangerous disease of polio.
“I always tell family elders that prevention is better than cure. The polio vaccine is a tool that increases your children’s immunity against this disease. So, vaccinate your children, strengthen their immunity, and protect them from polio,” Yousafzai said.
She highlighted that Afghanistan is one of the two countries still fighting against polio. With the help of the people, polio can be eradicated from Afghanistan forever, which is her greatest dream.
While talking with a family elder about the value of vaccination © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Raqiba Hamidi
Twenty-year-old Samia, who works as a vaccinator with the polio eradication program in Kunduz province, says that in the past, the absence of female social mobilizers in the polio vaccination campaigns created challenges in administering the vaccine.
“In the past when we visited homes during the campaigns to administer vaccines, family elders often refused and wouldn’t even bother coming outside. They would dismissively say, ‘We have no children here; go away.’ However, since the appointment of female social mobilizers, this problem has been solved and families happily bring their children for vaccination,” Samia added.
She expresses hope that with continued cooperation between social mobilizers and families in administering the polio vaccine to children, Afghanistan will soon be free from the poliovirus.
Dr. Ghulam Jilani Atayi, who oversees immunization efforts in the Ministry of Public Health in Kunduz province, states that over 100 social mobilizers have been appointed for the polio eradication program in the region, with a notable contribution from women.
Shabnam Yousafzai loves the children of her country very much, and with this feeling, she continues her work as a social mobilizer in the polio eradication program © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Raqiba Hamidi
According to him, the message of implementing the polio vaccination campaign effectively reaches parents through female social mobilizers.
He commends the efforts of social mobilizers and expresses his commitment to increasing the number of female social mobilizers in the polio eradication program, both in cities and villages.
Atayi emphasizes in his message to parents that polio has no cure and can lead to permanent disability. The only preventive measure against this disease is administering two drops of polio vaccine to all children up to the age of five.
