Nationwide polio vaccination drive to begin tomorrow

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Sunday announced a nationwide polio vaccination campaign would be launched tomorrow, Monday, during which 9.9 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated.

Dr. QalandarEbad, acting public health minister, addressing a conference today, said that the campaign would be launched in  cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"It is time to fight the polio virus with full commitment and firm action so that the disease is completely eradicated and no more children are infected with the deadly illness," he said.

He urged families not to neglect the campaign and bring their children to the vaccination teams so they would be protected against the disease.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are two countries where polio has not yet fully eradicated.

According to MoPH, Afghanistan is now close to eradicating the disease more than ever before.

The source adds that so far this year, only one positive case of this disease has been registered in the country, compared to 56 cases last year.

Mds/ma