In brief
Afghanistan rolled out a four‑day anti‑polio vaccination drive on Monday, aiming to immunise 12.8 million children under five. The campaign, coordinated by the Ministry of Public Health, also distributed albendazole tablets to prevent worm infections. Officials urged parents to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine as a key step toward eliminating the disease.
On Monday, Kabul, Afghanistan launched a four‑day anti‑polio vaccination campaign that aims to immunise 12.8 million children under five, as reported by the state‑run Bakhtar News Agency.
The Ministry of Public Health announced that children across the country will receive polio vaccine drops in a coordinated effort to protect them against the crippling virus.
In addition to the polio shot, every child will also be given albendazole tablets to help prevent intestinal worm infections, the agency said.
Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health, spoke at the launch and appealed to Afghan parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine as part of a broader push to rid the country of polio.
The four‑day campaign was designed to reach every district in Afghanistan, with health workers travelling on foot, vehicle, and motorcycle to reach remote communities.
The strategy follows a mounting concern that the sweeping takeover by the Taliban in 2021 had disrupted routine health services, including vaccination programs, potentially leaving millions of children unprotected.
Health officials stated that the current campaign is part of Afghanistan’s ongoing efforts to meet the World Health Organization’s goal of polio eradication.
While the campaign has the support of local officials and international partners, details about the precise logistics and coverage rates remain limited, as the Ministry of Public Health released only aggregate figures in its preliminary announcement.
No uncertainties were highlighted in the reported sources regarding the campaign’s efficacy or reach.