On Monday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF launched a nationwide polio vaccination program in Afghanistan, in a programme that has been backed by the Taliban.
The four-day drive was announced by the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health and is aimed at vaccinating 10 million unvaccinated children under five years of age. This includes four million children who stayed in previously inaccessible areas. Alongside the polio vaccine, extra doses of Vitamin A will also be given to the children. Polio is an incurable and infectious disease that causes paralysis in infants and requires prevention mechanisms.
The drive is the first in three years and the first to be conducted under the Taliban. Since 2018, a rise in violence between Western forces and the Taliban hampered the polio drives, leaving children remaining vulnerable to infection. However, some senior leaders from certain districts have convinced the Taliban to allow polio vaccines to be administered to children.
Previously, the Taliban had banned polio vaccines after taking control over the country in August. Several leaders of the group claimed that the vaccines are a Western conspiracy that target and sterilise Muslim children. Furthermore, earlier this year, several polio workers in the country were attacked and killed by gunmen. Hence, the support of the Taliban to conduct the drive and protect the war-torn country’s children from the crippling disease has been welcomed by the two international organisations.
According to Gula Khan Ayub, the director of the campaign, the Taliban has given their complete support for the drive. Further, he said, “Female vaccinators are also allowed to work side-by-side with their male colleagues.” In addition, a second vaccine drive is planned for December, which will be conducted in collaboration with Pakistan.
Celebrating the Taliban’s support for the drive, Ahmed Al Mandhari, the WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said, “The urgency with which the Taliban leadership wants the polio campaign to proceed demonstrates a joint commitment to maintain the health system and restart essential immunizations to avert further outbreaks of preventable diseases.”
Despite the Taliban’s nod of approval, many Afghan families remain hesitant. According to a source cited by Al Jazeera: “Some families just lack the education. Others, though, believe a lot of the misinformation they hear from other people.” However, vaccinations have said that a majority of the households in Afghanistan are aware of the dangers of the disease, for which they have applauded the efforts of the previous government.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where polio continues to be endemic. This has been attributed to inaccessibility and scepticism amongst residents. Hence, conducting these drives is extremely critical in order to curb the disease and eradicate it in its entirety. The Taliban’s support for the program is also likely to be well-received by the international community, which continues to be wary about officially recognising the Taliban’s governance.
WHO, UNICEF Resume Polio Vaccination Campaign in Afghanistan With Taliban Support
After a three-year halt, a four-day polio vaccine campaign was launched by the WHO and the UNICEF. The campaign has been initiated with the support of the Taliban.
November 9, 2021
SOURCE: UNICEF