Noor Jalal Jalali, the country’s Minister of Public Health, says that despite serious efforts to eradicate polio, a positive case of the disease was recorded in Nangarhar three months ago.
Speaking at an information session in Kabul on “Polio and the Role of the Media for Journalists and Spokespersons of Sectoral Organizations,” Jalali also stressed expanding public awareness efforts, even at the district level and in remote areas.
Noor Jalal Jalali, Minister of Public Health, said: “This year, compared to last year, we have only nine polio cases. In the eastern zone, compared to the past when many polio cases occurred, unfortunately a positive case was detected three months ago this year.”
Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the session emphasized joint cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan and ensuring children in remote areas have access to vaccination to eradicate the disease. They also reassured continued support from the two UN agencies for the fight against polio.
Khoshhal Zaman, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, said: “It is a fact that in countries where this virus was eradicated 20 years ago, it can grow again. Until we work on these two countries and bring polio to zero, the risk of this disease remains.”
Ali Salat Saberi, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, said: “UNICEF is committed to helping you and our colleagues so that no child is deprived of vaccines. Through cooperation, we can provide accurate information and credible news and build trust.”
Syed Agha, an 11-year-old boy, came from Helmand with his father to attend the event. According to his father, he contracted polio last year and was prevented from going to school. When asked about his illness, he broke into tears and could not speak.
Abdullah, Syed Agha’s father, told TOLOnews: “We were not opposed to vaccination; we cooperated, but in our province there was war, and for 20 years it was not possible to vaccinate.”
Khaliq, who is living with polio, said: “My request to all our compatriots and elders is to vaccinate their children. We have been affected by this disease—others should not be.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health says it has implemented nine polio vaccination campaigns this year and is set to hold the final polio vaccination campaign of 2025 next week. Global leaders, charitable foundations, and global health partners meeting in Abu Dhabi on Monday also pledged $1.9 billion to fully eradicate polio.
