The narrative of a father with two children afflicted by polio
Rahmatullah Marjankhil
Ghazni, Afghanistan – Mohammed Abdullah, a 34-year-old resident of Ghazni, grapples with a devastating reality. His two children, a daughter, and a son, have both been struck by the crippling disease of polio.
He lives in Deh yak District, approximately 25 kilometers from the center of Ghazni province. He has a bachelor’s degree and he currently works as a teacher at a school in Ghazni city.
This father of five children—two boys and three girls—states that his eldest son’s right arm and right leg are paralyzed, and both legs of his eldest daughter are paralyzed.
“About 13 years ago, I held a teaching position at a school in Ghazni city. I was away from home much of the time, and my family resided in Deh yak district, a War-torn area. Unfortunately, there were no clinics nearby where my wife could have taken our children for vaccinations. As a result, our children, Shafiullah and Hasina, both contracted the dangerous disease of polio,” he recounted.
Muhammad Abdullah’s polio-stricken son and daughter (Shafiullah and Hasina) playing at home © Polio Free Afghanistan/2024/Rahmatullah Marjankhil
He explains that when Shafiullah was two years old and Hasina was one year old, they both had a severe fever, followed by diarrhea and chronic pain. Their condition compelled them to seek medical treatment for the children.
He mentioned that the doctor prescribed some medication to treat the fever and diarrhea of his children, but also informed him that they had contracted polio, a perilous disease which has no cure.
He added that this news was deeply saddening for him as a father, but he had no choice; he had to endure it all. He says that when he sees his children unable to move and function in a healthy way, he becomes deeply agonized.
“I learned a lot about the value of vaccination from that incident. Since then, I have been vaccinating my remaining three children – two sons and a daughter – almost every month. Thankfully, they are strong and healthy,” He stated.
Mohammed states that during recent vaccination campaigns, he has been going from house to house with his polio-afflicted children and a vaccine volunteer. His aim is to send a message to people that if they don’t vaccinate their children, they could suffer the same fate as his children.
Muhammad Abdullah, accompanied by dedicated polio vaccine volunteers, carrying his polio-afflicted child from door to door, Their message: Without vaccination, others may face the same fate as his child’s © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Rahmatullah Marjankhil
“Each individual in society plays a vital role in eradicating polio and securing a healthy future for our children. Religious leaders can begin from the pulpit, teachers from schools, and both the youth and the elderly from their homes and villages. Together, we can strive toward a polio free world,” he asserted.
Mohibullah, a polio vaccination volunteer who was carrying a green vaccine carrier box and working alongside Mohammed and his son Shafiullah, going from house to house vaccinating children and raising public awareness, praised what Mohammed was doing.
He added that despite the cold and rainy weather, Mohammad Abdullah and his son diligently visit homes alongside vaccination volunteers. Together they encourage misinformed families to vaccinate their children.
“There are many people afflicted by polio who can voluntarily join the polio eradication program and inform others about the harm caused by this unfortunate disease,” he stated.
Polio vaccine volunteer Muhibullah, alongside Muhammad Abdullah and his polio- afflicted son Shafiullah, rasing public awareness and administering vaccinations in a suburban area of Ghazni © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Rahmatullah Marjankhil
Haji Gulan Khan, approximately fifty years old, resides in the Pashtun Abad area of Ghazni and is well-acquainted with Mohammad Abdullah.
He expresses his admiration for him and states, “Despite the wintry chill, Mohammed stands as a devoted father, deeply concerned about the health of the country’s children. He tirelessly raises awareness about polio and its dangers, even going as far as taking his own polio-afflicted son to illustrate the perilous nature of this disease.”
He emphasized that every citizen in our society should actively participate in raising public awareness about the importance of the polio vaccine. By doing so, we collectively contribute to our national mission of safeguarding our children to the best of our abilities.
