In brief
Afghanistan began a nationwide anti‑polio campaign on 2 November with the goal of vaccinating 12.8 million children under five. The Ministry of Public Health also provided albendazole tablets to prevent intestinal worm infections, and health officials urged parents to keep their kids vaccinated as part of a broader effort to eliminate polio.
Afghanistan launched a four‑day anti‑polio vaccination campaign Monday, 2 November, aiming to immunise 12.8 million children under five across the country, according to the state‑run Bakhtar News Agency reported by Xinhua.
The Ministry of Public Health said children will receive polio vaccine drops along with albendazole tablets that help stop intestinal worm infections.
Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali told parents that it is vital for their children to get the vaccine during the short campaign.
The effort is part of a push to eliminate polio, a crippling disease that can cause paralysis and even death in young children.
The four‑day campaign is the first large‑scale event since the country’s last major mass vaccination drive, according to official reports.
Health officers will carry out the campaign in all 34 provinces, with teams working in rural villages, urban centers and military bases.
Each child will receive a single dose of the oral polio vaccine, designed to prevent the virus from spreading in communities.
Surveillance teams will monitor for any adverse reactions, and the ministry has set up a hotline for parents to report problems.
Officials stress that the addition of albendazole tablets addresses a common, neglected parasitic infection that can worsen when children are malnourished.
This combined approach aims to lower the risk of polio outbreaks and improve overall child health throughout Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Public Health said that if the campaign goes as planned, it could bring the country one step closer to a polio‑free status, a goal that has been delayed by security and access issues.