The Taliban's Ministry of Public Health has announced the start of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan. The campaign began on Monday, November 2, across the country and will last for four days.
Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, the ministry's spokesperson, stated that the campaign aims to vaccinate 2.8 million children under the age of five against polio. He called on all families to cooperate with health workers to ensure that no child is missed.
The Ministry of Public Health spokesperson also urged mosque imams, tribal elders, and influential local figures to encourage people to get vaccinated and to cooperate with vaccination teams for the success of this national campaign. This cooperation is vital for reaching all children in remote areas.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where the wild poliovirus is still endemic. Years of efforts to eradicate the disease have faced challenges due to insecurity, lack of access, and some false beliefs.
According to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 42 positive cases of polio were registered in Afghanistan as of mid-October 2026. This statistic indicates the continued circulation of the virus in the country and the necessity of ongoing vaccination campaigns.
Regular polio vaccination campaigns are one of the main strategies to prevent the spread of this paralyzing disease. The disease, which has no cure, can only be prevented through vaccination and can lead to permanent disability in children. The success of these campaigns depends on public cooperation and support for health workers.
Source: Taliban Ministry of Public Health
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