KABUL/ FARAH CITY/ JALALABAD/ SHARANA (SW): Yet another round of nationwide anti-polio campaign kicked-off across the country in a bid to eliminate this endemic virus for good.
It is the first time the campaign has been launched in autumn season. Children would also be provided with a dose of Vitamin A. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPA) aims to vaccinate some 1.8 million children below the age of 5 across the country.
This year alone, five new cases of polio emerged from various parts of the country. The MoPH has urged community leaders to play their role in saving the future of vulnerable children and make sure every child gets vaccinated.
In eastern Jalalabad province for instance, the Provincial Public Health Department has aimed to vaccinate 0.6 million children under the age of five. Like elsewhere, the campaign would continue for three days.
Dr. Najibullah, the Director Health Department launched the campaign as he administered polio drops to children at his office. Salimullah Khan, the Provincial Governor joined the launching campaign to encourage more and more parents to vaccinate their children.
It is feared that thousands of children in the restive Achin district would miss these essential drops this time.
Elsewhere, Mohammad Asif Nang, Governor of Farah said around 185000 children under the age of 5 would be vaccinated in Farah province. He added that polio vaccine campaign will be conducted by 1148 health personnel.
“The campaign will cover 10 districts and the capital city in Farah province.” He said. The governor asked Farah residents to make sure no child miss this opportunity.
Also in the south eastern Paktika province, the governor Aminullah Shariq launched the campaign to counter the polio virus in this part of the country. In Central Maidan Wardak province, authorities have aimed to provide polio vaccine to 0.15 million children.
It is vital to note only Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are lagging behind rest of the world in fight against Polio virus. Nigeria however, has made some progress in this regard and await World Health Organization (WHO)’s green signal to be declared polio free soon.
ENDS
