KABUL — The Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health announced on Sunday that a new round of polio vaccinations will begin Monday, targeting 11 provinces in the country.
The campaign aims to vaccinate 4.8 million children under the age of five to protect them against the debilitating disease, the ministry said in a statement. The provinces included in the initiative are Kabul, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul, Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan, Herat, and Kunduz.
Polio in Afghanistan
Afghanistan, along with Pakistan, remains one of only two countries where polio is still endemic. According to United Nations data, Afghanistan has reported 23 cases of polio so far this year, a significant increase compared to just two cases in 2021.
The resurgence of polio comes as Afghanistan’s health sector faces mounting challenges. Severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban on various sectors have also affected public health initiatives. In October, the Taliban suspended door-to-door vaccination campaigns in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, citing security concerns.
In neighboring Pakistan, the situation is similarly troubling. According to local media reports, polio cases there have risen to 50 this year, further underscoring the region’s struggle to eradicate the disease.
Polio, a highly contagious disease, can lead to permanent paralysis or even death if left untreated. Health experts warn that any disruption to vaccination efforts risks undoing years of progress toward eradication.
