A resident of Nangarhar province, who contracted polio 34 years ago, says he is willing to personally visit families who oppose vaccination to encourage them to protect their children from the disease.
Speaking to Amu TV, the man said he wants to change the mindset of vaccine-hesitant families by sharing his life story and the challenges he has faced since childhood due to the illness. This personal initiative comes as Afghanistan remains one of only two countries in the world where polio has not yet been eradicated.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five and can cause permanent paralysis. Although the disease is preventable through vaccination, opposition from some families, often due to misinformation and rumors, has hampered eradication efforts.
In recent years, health workers and vaccination volunteers have faced numerous security threats and difficulties. Despite these challenges, efforts to deliver the vaccine to every child across the country continue.
The action taken by this polio survivor highlights the important role that community members and victims of the disease can play in raising public awareness. The personal experiences of individuals living with polio-induced disabilities can have a powerful impact on hesitant families.
Health organizations have consistently emphasized that the polio vaccine is completely safe and effective, and it is the best way to protect children from this debilitating disease. Eradicating polio from Afghanistan requires collective cooperation and trust in vaccination programs.
Source: Amu TV
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