Afghanistan launches nationwide polio vaccination campaign to immunise 7.3 million children

Kabul [Afghanistan], July 21 : The Ministry of Public Health has launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting 7.3 million children across 19 provinces of Afghanistan.

The four-day campaign, which commenced on Monday, will cover 187 districts, according to Sharafat Zaman Amarakhail, spokesperson for the ministry.

"A sub-national polio vaccination campaign has begun in 19 provinces of the country, covering 187 districts, and will continue for four days. Around 7.3 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated during this campaign," said Amarakhail in a statement to Tolo News.

Vaccination teams have spread throughout the streets, alleyways, and neighbourhoods of Kabul and other provinces, working to immunise children against the debilitating disease.

Noor Hussain, one of the vaccinators, shared his experience of the day's efforts: "I started my work at 7 a.m. The public's cooperation in bringing their children for vaccination was truly commendable."

As the vaccination campaign continues, residents in Kabul have called for the expansion of such initiatives to combat polio effectively.

Ramazan, a Kabul resident, emphasised the importance of spreading awareness, urging the government to educate people about the life-saving benefits of the vaccine. "We urge the government to educate people about the benefits of the vaccine and to continue this process," he told Tolo News.

Doctors have underscored the critical role of public awareness and continued investment in eradicating polio. Dr. Mojtaba Sufi, a local health expert, reiterated: "The only effective way to prevent polio is through vaccination, and these vaccines are provided by the international community."

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported over twenty positive cases of polio in Afghanistan last year.

However, the Ministry of Public Health has contested the accuracy of these figures, calling them "inaccurate."

The campaign is part of Afghanistan's ongoing efforts to fight polio and protect the health of its youngest citizens.

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