Afghanistan begins new Polio Vaccination campaign

The Afghanistan Polio-Free Organization has announced that a polio vaccination campaign has commenced today, August 10, in several regions of the country.

In a public note, the organization urged citizens to do their part in achieving a “Polio-Free Afghanistan.”

The organization did not provide details on the number of children expected to receive the vaccine during this campaign.

According to reports, the campaign will last for four days across the country.

Previously, the head of the Polio Eradication Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health mentioned that during this campaign, 4.2 million children under the age of five in the provinces of Herat, Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, and Nimroz would be vaccinated.

It is noteworthy that Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio has not yet been eradicated.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, six positive cases of polio were recorded in Afghanistan in 2023.

The ongoing efforts to eradicate polio in Afghanistan face significant challenges, including access to remote areas, ongoing conflict, and public awareness. These factors make it imperative for both local communities and international organizations to collaborate closely to ensure the success of vaccination campaigns.

Meanwhile, the current vaccination drive is a step forward; sustained efforts, comprehensive coverage, and continued international support are crucial to finally eradicating polio from Afghanistan. The goal of a polio-free Afghanistan can only be achieved through persistent and coordinated efforts at all levels of society.

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