Zabiullah Faizi: A Young Man Who Has Risen to Fight Against Polio

Farah, Afghanistan – Zabiullah Faizi, a 25-year-old young man, has been working as a coordinator for polio vaccination campaigns in the first district of Farah city for the past two years.

Having graduated with a degree in nursing, he is responsible for overseeing several teams involved in the polio vaccination campaigns.

Faizi is in charge of vaccination efforts in areas such as the first district of Farah city and the village of Karji, where residents had refused to vaccinate their children for years

However, through his persistent efforts and prudent approach, he has managed to convince and encourage dozens of such families to vaccinate their children.

With great patience and tact, he has educated the community about the dangers of polio and the benefits of vaccination. Families who once refused vaccinations now voluntarily seek out vaccinators to ensure their children are immunized.

 

Social Challenges and Gradual Successes

“Those who reject vaccines are often influenced by misinformation and misconceptions. We patiently engage with them and address their concerns. Over the past two years, dozens of families who previously refused vaccination now willingly immunize their children with greater awareness,” Faizi says.

He adds that there are still some families who, due to low levels of awareness or traditional beliefs, do not vaccinate their children. However, he and his team strive to identify such families and, with the help of local leaders and religious scholars, persuade them to vaccinate their children.

 

The Efforts of a Young Vaccinator

19-year-old Irshad Barak, a vaccinator working under Faizi’s management, has similar experiences. He considers family refusals a major obstacle in the fight against polio.

“Compared to the past, the situation of polio vaccination campaigns has greatly improved. Many families who previously did not vaccinate their children now understand that vaccination is the only way to protect their children from the crippling and deadly disease of polio,” Irshad says.

However, he adds that some families still hide their children from vaccinators to avoid immunization.

According to Irshad, the most effective way to reduce such resistance is to leverage the influence of local leaders and mosque imams.

 

Zabiullah Faizi, a 25-year-old young man, has been working as a coordinator for polio vaccination campaigns in the first district of Farah city for the past two years. © Polio Free Afghanistan/ 2024/ Marzia Frotan

 

A Father’s Regret

Pirmohammad is one of the individuals who previously refused to vaccinate his children. He has four children and today he brought his four-year-old to the health center in the first district of Farah city for vaccination.

Pirmohammad wistfully recalls his past mistakes: “I used to hear from others that the polio vaccine harms children and makes them sick. Whenever vaccinators came to my house, I would chase them away, claiming I had no children.”

However, his perspective changed after attending an awareness session organized by the vaccination team in his area.

“When the healthcare workers provided accurate information about the dangers of polio and the benefits of vaccination, I realized what a grave mistake I had made. From that day forward, I resolved never to prevent my children from being vaccinated again.”

Pirmohammad now considers polio vaccination a moral responsibility for every parent: “The polio vaccine guarantees the health of future generations. It is our national duty to vaccinate our children under all circumstances.”

 

A Bright Future

The efforts of Zabiullah Faizi and his colleagues have gradually reduced opposition to polio vaccination.

He continues his relentless efforts to ensure that no child in his area of responsibility is left without the polio vaccine.

Faizi works tirelessly towards this goal because he believes that a healthy society and a bright future begin with vaccinated children.

Marzia Frotan, Polio Free Afghanistan