KANDAHAR CITY (SW): Thousands of children in Kandahar’s restive Khakrez district are likely to miss the three-day polio vaccination campaign that commenced on Tuesday.
Abdul Qayume, head of the directorate of health, told Salam Watandar that the three-day vaccination campaign would see up to 500,000 children vaccinated in all 16 districts except Khakrez. He said efforts are underway to convince the Taliban to allow vaccination in Khakrez as well.
Kandahar residents are unhappy for the thousands of children who would miss this important vaccine. Haji Mohammad and Syed Akram, two Kandahar residents, said in this regard that children should not be sacrificed for political and security purposes. They feared this could seriously undermine the future of so many children of the affected district.
Abdul Aziz, media manager of the Independent Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Kandahar, has stressed access to health services is a basic right, and the children should not be deprived of this right.
Salam Watandar wished to have the views of the Taliban, but to no avail.
There have already been seven positive cases of polio virus in the province. Four other positive cases of polio virus have been reported from Kunduz, Nangarhar, Zabul and Helmand provinces.
ENDS
