Toward a polio-free future
A young volunteer in Momand Dara district, Nangarhar province, works tirelessly to protect children.
Nangarhar, Afghanistan – With the first light of dawn beginning to spread, Rafiullah Momand prepares his small blue vaccine carrier box and carefully places polio vaccine vials inside. Afterwards, he shares the daily work plan with his colleagues and sets out toward Hazarnaw village in Momand Dara district to vaccinate children under five years of age.
Twenty-seven-year-old Rafiullah, a resident of the area, has worked as a volunteer in polio campaigns for the past five years. For him, this work is not just a job but a responsibility he has taken on to protect the children of his village.
Every step he and his colleagues take reflects their commitment to protecting the future of children.
He says, “When I saw children being paralyzed by polio with my own eyes, I decided to take part in every campaign and save other children from the same fate.”
Rafiullah puts this commitment into practice every day. He and his colleagues strive to reach every child and vaccinate them.
“When I vaccinate a child,” he says, “I feel as if I have saved that child’s future from danger.”
Rafiullah administers polio vaccine to children in Hazarnaw village, Momand Dara district © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2026
In areas where some families still have doubts about vaccination, Rafiullah’s gentle approach and sincere conversations have helped create an atmosphere of trust.
He and his colleagues try not only to carry out vaccination activities but also to address parents’ doubts and concerns.
Sometimes a family may not feel confident about vaccination at first, but Rafiullah speaks with them patiently and convinces them to have their children vaccinated. He says such moments feel like his greatest success.
Jahanzeb Insaf, a community activist from Hazarnaw village, considers the efforts of Rafiullah and his colleagues vital for preventing polio.
“Rafiullah and his colleagues are not just volunteers; they are trusted members of the community. When a family has doubts about vaccination, they speak with them patiently and respectfully, reassuring them. People trust them because they know Rafiullah and his colleagues work sincerely to protect their children,” he says.
Rafiullah marks the finger of a vaccinated child during a polio vaccination campaign © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2026
Dr. Zamir, a local health worker, also believes that volunteers like Rafiullah play a key role in the fight against polio.
He urges parents to cooperate with vaccination teams to protect their children’s health and not allow them to miss vaccination.
“Just two drops of the vaccine in every campaign can save a child from lifelong paralysis,” he says. “If every family vaccinates their children regularly, the community will remain healthy and protected.”
Over the years, Rafiullah and his colleagues have worked tirelessly to raise this awareness in their community.
These sustained efforts have influenced the attitudes and behavior of people in Hazarnaw village, and many families who once did not vaccinate their children now do so with confidence.
Rafiullah believes that if the efforts of health workers continue across the country, one day no child will face the threat of polio, and the disease will be eradicated forever.
He says with confidence, “I hope no child ever suffers from polio again. If we all work together, that day will surely come.”
Rafiullah’s story is just one example of the efforts of thousands of volunteers who work to protect children, hoping for a day when all children will be completely safe from polio.
