Voice of the Disabled: “Vaccinate Your Children So They Don’t Suffer Like Us”
Balkh, Afghanistan – Disabled residents of Balkh, who suffer from both their disabilities and society’s harsh treatment, are urging parents to vaccinate their children against polio to protect them from lifelong disabilities.
Haroon Hakimi, a young disabled individual living in Mazar-e-Sharif, explains: “Disability is a lifelong hardship. If parents don’t vaccinate their children, they will become disabled like us, and as a result, they will not only face a lifetime of suffering but will also become a burden on their families and society.”
Hakimi, who has also lost his eyesight, adds that, as someone living with a disability, he understands the pain and hardship it brings better than anyone.
In a sorrowful tone, he said, “My disability is a heavy affliction and torment for me. It subjects me to constant mistreatment from others, and society views me as a burden.”
Based on this, he urges parents not to condemn their children to such a harsh fate, but instead to ensure they receive the polio vaccine regularly, protecting them from this tragedy.
“Unfortunately, some parents have a misguided view of the polio vaccine, believing it to be part of a foreign conspiracy or harmful to their children’s health in the future. They have fallen prey to false rumors. I want to tell such parents, if you could understand the pain and suffering of disabled individuals like me, you would regret holding such beliefs,” Hakimi remarks.
Disabled residents of Balkh, who suffer from both their disabilities and society’s harsh treatment, are urging parents to vaccinate their children against polio to safeguard them from lifelong disabilities © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Abdul Saboor Serat
Sayed Mohammad Yazdanparast, another young man who is both disabled and blind, endures great hardships due to his physical condition.
“I became disabled during my childhood, which deprived me of all life’s joys, including the opportunity for education. Since then, I have been dependent on others for help. They do all the tasks I should be able to do on my own,” he shares.
Reflecting on his hardships, Yazdanparast points out that the polio vaccine can protect children from such a fate. “Why wouldn’t parents vaccinate their children?” he asks.
He continues, “If a child contracts polio and becomes disabled, not only will they suffer, but their family will also endure hardship, because such a person cannot live a normal life and will be dependent on the help of others.”
Health experts also urge people not to take polio lightly, warning that it is a severely dangerous disease.
Dr. Abdul Wahid, a healthcare expert in Balkh, explains that polio is a viral disease that damages nerve cells and leads to permanent disability.
“Failing to vaccinate not only endangers one child but puts the entire community at risk. Parents should understand that by vaccinating their children, they are protecting both their child’s and the community’s health,” he adds.
The message from Balkh’s disabled community and healthcare professionals is clear: “The only way to eradicate the scourge of polio is through vaccination. The polio vaccine plays a critical role not only in individual health but also in the well-being of society.”
People like Haroon Hakimi and Sayed Mohammad Yazdanparast, who suffer from the hardships of disability, urge society to learn from their experiences.
Unity in addressing this critical issue is essential. Let us recognize the importance of the polio vaccine and fulfill our social responsibility to ensure future generations live normal lives, free from disability.
By Abdul Saboor Serat, Polio Free Afghanistan
