Polio vaccination campaign kicks off in 28 provinces

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health on Monday launched a four-day polio vaccination campaign targeting 6.7 million children under five years age in 28 provinces.

Polio is a dangerous disease that has no cure and can only be prevented by vaccination. Children infected with polio are permanently paralyzed or die.

In a statement, the MoPH announced the launch of polio vaccination in 28 provinces of the country in cooperation with relevant international institutions.

The statement said during the four-day campaign, nearly 7 million children below five years of age will be vaccinated against polio.

The campaign has been launched in a total of 248 districts in southern, southeastern, eastern, northern, western and central provinces of country, where the risk of polio virus spread is higher.

According to the statement, the campaign is focused on  provinces and districts, where polio vaccination could not be implemented in winter due to cold weather.

Acting Public Health Minister Dr. QalandarEbad thanked the health personnel who participated in the campaign and asked families to vaccinate their children under five years of age against the crippling disease.

According MoPH, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where polio virus is still endemic.

The MoPH statement concluded: "Since the beginning of this year, one positive case of polio has been reported from Paktika province, whose genetic origin was related to positive case of polio in Quetta, Pakistan."

hz/ma