Polio vaccination campaign launched

KABUL said on Sunday.

The three days door-to-door polio vaccination drive would be carried out across the country, where 4.5 million children between two and five years of age would be given dewoming tablets.

A statement from the ministry said the campaign would be conducted by 68,684 workers. It added 80 cases of polio had been found in 2011, but the number fell to 14 in 2013.

Over the past eight months, eight positive cases were found across the country, showing a decrease in the disease. Afghanistan is among the countries where children are still infected by the polio virus.

Children affected by the disease either die or are permanent disabled. The ministry urged prayer leaders and community elders to help it in elimination of polio.

mm/rm/mud