KABUL (SW): A nationwide three-day polio vaccination drive will kick-off on Monday, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced.
Authorities at the MoPH said on Sunday the winter polio vaccination campaign is going to be launched tomorrow for 3 days across the country. Maiwand Ahmadzai, director of polio eradication program at the MoPH, said a massive program has been launched to eradicate polio from the country. He said it aims to administer polio drops to more than 9.5 million children in 2017. “6 million children are at risk in the south and southeast of the country, and we are aiming to have intense eradication campaign in these areas”, added Ahmadzai.
According to Maiwand Ahmadzai, $60 million have been allocated for the polio eradication campaign. He added in case there was need for more funds, the international organizations have expressed commitment for more budget.
Melisa Corkum, program communication specialist UNICEF Afghanistan, said on the occasion the country is very close to eradication of polio. She urged citizens to cooperate with health workers in order to eradicate polio from Afghanistan.
According to the MoPH, only 13 cases of polio were recorded at the beginning of 2016 from Paktia, Helmand, Kunar and Kandahar provinces, however, no such case has been registered in the country in the past 6 months.
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