The Story of a Family Whose Four Children Contracted Polio

Rahmatullah Marjankhel

Ghazni, Afghanistan – In the Pashtun Abad neighborhood of Ghazni city, a family whose four children have contracted polio endures a life filled with pain and suffering.

The family, who had previously lived as refugees in Pakistan before recently returning to Afghanistan, lost two of their children (a boy and a girl) to polio. The other two children, both girls, are living with permanent disabilities caused by the disease.

One of the girls, 18-year-old Noor Bibi, is paralyzed in both legs, with all her dreams for the future shattered.

Sitting in a corner of her home, she speaks in a sorrowful tone, saying: “I had longed to study since childhood. My greatest dream was to become a doctor, but polio shattered those dreams and left me feeling like a burden to my family.”

Noor Bibi never attended school, as her polio-induced disability left her unable to walk.

Noor Bibi, for whom education and progress are now lost dreams, adds, “When I ask my parents why I am in this condition, why I can’t walk like others, they tell me it’s because I wasn’t vaccinated against polio as a child.”

After pausing in deep thought, Noor Bibi composed herself and said, “In truth, I am paying the heavy price for my parents’ negligence. Not only me but also my sister, who is disabled like me, and my other siblings who lost their lives because of this disease.”

She concluded her words with deep sorrow: “I urge all families to ensure their children are vaccinated because failing to do so is the biggest mistake they could ever make.”

 

In the Pashtun Abad neighborhood of Ghazni City, a family whose four children have contracted polio endures a life filled with pain and suffering © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Rahmatullah Marjankhel

 

The Struggles of the Parents

Noor Bibi’s mother, who has witnessed the suffering of her four children due to polio, says that their life as refugees in Pakistan was filled with hardships. She recalls how even finding a loaf of bread was difficult, let alone accessing vaccines and healthcare for the children.

Speaking through tears, she says, “When I look at my children, my heart breaks into pieces. If we had vaccinated them when they were young, they would have been healthy and living happy lives today.”

She has a message to all parents: “Why should anyone fall victim to a problem that is so easily preventable? The suffering I endure is something I wish on no parent. All families should understand the importance of vaccination for their children’s health.”

Noor Bibi’s father, Alam Khan, shares similar sentiments, expressing that his children’s condition has brought endless torment to his life.

“I have twelve children in total, four of whom contracted polio. Among them, one boy and one girl passed away, while my two daughters—18-year-old Noor Bibi and 12-year-old Sara—are living with permanent disabilities,” he said.

He adds, “It’s incredibly hard to see my daughters in this condition. Both of their legs are paralyzed, and they rely on others for all aspects of their lives.”

He also urges parents to vaccinate their children, stating that if they don’t want their children to end up like his, they must ensure their children receive all necessary childhood vaccines, including the polio vaccine.

 

Noor Bibi’s mother said, “When I look at my children, my heart breaks into pieces. If we had vaccinated them when they were young, they would have been healthy and living happy lives today” © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Rahmatullah Marjankhel

 

The story of this family isn’t limited to them alone; their neighbors are also distressed by the situation.

Alam Khan’s neighbor, Ghulam Rasool, says, “Whenever I see Alam Khan’s children, it pains me deeply. I call on everyone to take their children’s health seriously and ensure they are vaccinated, to avoid such a tragic fate.”

The story of this family is just one example of the thousands of Afghan families whose children have been paralyzed by polio due to not being vaccinated.

Unfortunately, Afghanistan remains one of the two countries where polio still threatens children’s lives, even though it has been eradicated in most of the world.

In many areas where healthcare services are limited and people are misinformed about vaccines, children often miss out on vaccinations. This negligence causes children to face diseases at a young age that not only affect them but also place a heavy burden on their families.

Polio not only causes physical paralysis but also disrupts social and economic life. Children who become paralyzed at a young age lose all hope for a normal life, and their families are burdened with a heavy responsibility.

The story of Noor Bibi and her family serves as a profound message to all families about the importance of vaccination, urging them to protect their children from a life of permanent disability.