FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): The Taliban officials said on Tuesday.
Public health official Syed Farooq Nasar told Pajhwok Afghan News a number of local and foreign insurgents were hampering the polio vaccination drive in Raghestan.
“We have been unable to vaccinate around 2,100 children under five years of age; we have been in talks with the governor, the district chief and tribal elders to help persuade the Taliban to let medics conduct the drive, but there is no response yet” he added.
Nasar added the vaccination had been ongoing in 27 districts of Badakhshan for the past five days to cover about 255,545children. Deworming tablets will also be given to 195,296 children between 2-5 years of age.
He added: “We have managed to conduct vaccination drives despite is poor security in the province. But we haven’t been able to take our campaign to Taliban-held areas or where families of foreign militants are residing like Raghestan andKhastakJurm.”
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