The Fight Against Polio: The Efforts of Volunteers to Protect Children
Helmand, Afghanistan – In the Grishk district of Helmand province, Abdul Karim’s efforts to protect children from polio serve as an inspiring example of dedication to community service.
At 40 years old, Abdul Karim has been working as a volunteer in polio vaccination campaigns for approximately seven years.
As a member of the community, he felt compelled to act when he saw children in his area threatened by polio and recognized their need for vaccination to protect them from this devastating disease. This sense of duty motivated him to become a vaccinator in the polio campaigns.
According to Abdul Karim, his role is not only to vaccinate children but also to educate people about the dangers of polio and the value of vaccination.
“As a volunteer in the polio vaccination campaigns over the past seven years, I have vaccinated thousands of children against polio. Additionally, I have encouraged dozens of families, who were misled by misinformation and doubts, to vaccinate their children,” Abdul Karim says.
Challenges and Triumphs
In a region where the level of public awareness is low, and people are easily influenced by misinformation and rumors, combating polio is no easy task.
Abdul Karim says that many people fall prey to doubts and concerns about the polio vaccine due to a lack of knowledge and access to accurate information, making them reluctant to vaccinate their children.
According to him, this issue not only poses a significant obstacle to their work but has also paved the way for the spread of the polio virus, resulting in an increase in positive polio cases recently.
However, he adds, “My fellow volunteers and I strive to dispel people’s doubts and concerns, educate them about the harms of polio and the importance of vaccination, so that we can pave the way for the vaccination of all children and ultimately eradicate this disease forever.”
The tireless efforts of volunteers in the fight against polio are commendable. They are, in essence, safeguarding the future of the community—its children—from disability. © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Saeed Zabuli
In this endeavor, Abdul Karim is not alone; numerous other volunteers are also striving to protect children from polio.
One such volunteer is Abdul Karim’s colleague, Sardar Mohammad, who has been working as a vaccinator for the past two years.
He says, “When I started working as a vaccinator in the polio vaccination campaigns, many families were reluctant to vaccinate their children because they lacked awareness about the disease. However, my colleagues and I made efforts to educate them about it.”
Sardar Mohammad adds that there has been a significant change compared to the past. Many people now understand the importance of the polio vaccine and regularly vaccinate their children.
However, he emphasizes that more work remains to be done to ensure that everyone understands the dangers of polio and the importance of vaccination, so that every child can be vaccinated and the disease can ultimately be eradicated from the country.
The tireless efforts of volunteers in the fight against polio are commendable. They are, in essence, safeguarding the future of the community—its children—from disability.
However, their efforts alone are not enough. Eradicating the dangerous disease of polio is a collective responsibility. Let’s vaccinate our children regularly and encourage others to take this vital step as well.
Together, we can save our country from this devastating scourge and gift our future generations a healthy, safe, and bright future.
Saeed Zabuli, Polio Free Afghanistan
