A major polio vaccination drive has begun in eastern Afghanistan, aiming to immunize more than 1.3 million children under the age of five across the region, health officials announced.

The campaign comes in response to the first confirmed polio case of 2025, reported recently in Bala Murghab district of Badghis province.

In Nangarhar province, Aminullah Sharif, head of public health, stated, “We plan to vaccinate 914,000 children across all districts during this campaign.” Meanwhile, in Kunar province, Muzaffar Mukhlis, the public health chief, set a target of 208,000 children under five. The initiative reflects a renewed push to eradicate the crippling disease in one of the few remaining polio-endemic countries.

Local residents have voiced strong support for the effort, emphasizing the vaccine’s role in preventing childhood disabilities. “Parents must vaccinate their children—it’s essential for their future and protects them from lifelong challenges,” said Aminullah, a Nangarhar resident. Another local, Fazal Khan, called for broader outreach, urging, “Vaccination teams should visit mosques and madrassas to raise awareness and ensure every child is reached.”

The campaign underscores the urgency of combating polio in Afghanistan, with health authorities and communities rallying together to safeguard the next generation from this preventable disease. (ILKHA)