Polio vaccination drive kicks off in Jawzjan

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Around 60,000 children aged below five years will miss polio vaccine in Taliban-controlled areas in northern Jawzjan province as the Public Health Department kicked off a fresh vaccination drive in the province,

Health Department Director Abdul Ghafar Khoshewal said 111,000 children under the age of five years will be administrated polio drops during the drive.

He said the vaccination campaign was launched after two fresh polio cases were registered in Aqcha and Mangjak districts.

He said polio teams will visit every house to administer the drops to children.  “If the Taliban don’t allow polio vaccination in areas under their control, some 60,000 children will be deprived of polio drops.”

Jawzjan Governor Mohammad Hashim Raees inaugurated the vaccination drive by administering polio drops to children. He said: “We know public problems in areas under Taliban control. We are trying to resolve this problem through mediation involving elders and influential people.”

Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in an audio message said they were trying to contact Taliban health officials to inquire about their viewpoints regarding polio vaccination.

Nh/ma