Polio vaccination campaign aims to reach 7.3 million children in 18 Afghan provinces

A nationwide polio vaccination campaign has been launched in 18 provinces across Afghanistan, targeting more than 7.3 million children under the age of five, the Ministry of Public Health announced on Monday.

Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman Amarkhel said the campaign is currently underway in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Badghis, Herat, Kunduz, Faryab, Balkh, Zabul, Uruzgan, Helmand and Kandahar.

The “Polio Free Afghanistan” organization confirmed that the drive is being carried out in close coordination with international health organizations and partner agencies.

Health officials say the campaign forms part of continued efforts to protect children from the crippling disease and move closer to its eradication. Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries worldwide where wild poliovirus transmission has not yet been eliminated, largely due to insecurity, vaccine hesitancy and difficulties accessing children in remote areas.

Authorities have urged families to cooperate fully with vaccination teams to ensure all eligible children receive the life-saving polio drops.