In brief
On Nov. 2, Afghanistan launched a nationwide anti‑polio campaign to immunise 12.8 million children under five, providing polio vaccine drops and albendazole tablets over a four‑day period. The Ministry of Public Health urged parents to participate as part of the country’s push to eliminate polio. Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali stressed the critical nature of the effort in a televised address.
On Nov. 2, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health launched a four‑day nationwide anti‑polio vaccination campaign, announcing its goal of immunising 12.8 million children under five across the country. The initiative, reported by the state‑run media and Bakhtar News Agency, covered every province in a coordinated effort to jump‑start the country’s push toward polio eradication.
The newly issued polio vaccine drops were to be administered to every child in the target age group, with healthcare workers operating in both urban centres and remote rural locations. The campaign’s timing coincided with the summer months, when polio transmission rates historically spike, to maximise protective coverage.
In addition to the polio inoculation, the campaign distributed albendazole tablets designed to prevent intestinal worm infections that frequently afflict Afghan children. By combining these two preventive measures, health officials sought to reduce diarrhoea and malnutrition associated with parasitic diseases.
Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali delivered the opening address, urging parents nationwide to ensure that their children receive the polio vaccine. His remarks appeared in a televised message that reached millions across the country’s broadcasting network.
Minister Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali called on Afghan parents to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine as part of efforts to rid the country of the crippling disease.
The ministry’s appeal was reinforced by a statement that parents should check vaccination status at local health posts, which were prepared to handle the influx of 12.8 million children during the four‑day drive. The government’s call came as part of a broader strategy that includes public awareness campaigns and intensified surveillance.
Health officials said the campaign was backed by international partners, who congratulated Afghanistan on unknown evidence of measurable progress. The ministry pledged to continue monitoring vaccination coverage once the four‑day period ended, with the aim of reaching every eligible child and ending polio transmission in the coming years.