Afghanistan kicks off nationwide polio drive with Taliban's backing

Afghanistan has launched a four-day polio vaccination drive in a first nationwide campaign in three years aimed at eradicating the crippling infectious disease.

The campaign is spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) in cooperation with the Taliban-run government in Kabul.

The vaccination drive kicked off in various parts of the crisis-stricken country on Monday, with Taliban authorities allowing health teams in previously inaccessible parts of the country, according to the WHO.

“Without any doubt polio is a disease that without treatment will either kill our children or cause them with permanent disability, so in this case the only way is to implement the vaccination,” Taliban's acting public health minister Dr Qalandar Ebad was quoted as saying.

Around 10 million Afghan children aged under five will be covered in the countrywide programme.

Nek Wali Shah Momin, a health ministry official in the polio eradication department, told media persons that the task ahead was "gigantic", adding that it would need "the support of all linked departments".

Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where the disease remains undefeated, according to the WHO.

The disabling disease which is caused by poliovirus has long been virtually eliminated globally, but twenty years of US war and occupation, along with insecurity, mass displacement and suspicion of outside interference have hampered mass vaccination in Afghanistan.

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Vaccinators have in the past faced many dangers, including kidnapping and roadside mine blasts.

In recent months, several trained polio workers have been killed by unknown gunmen in eastern Afghanistan.

Pertinently, there was also a blanket Taliban ban on vaccination drive in many parts of the country, especially in the east and south, where the group controlled local affairs for years.

The apparent U-turn from the groups appears to be aimed at reaching out to the international community as well as the global aid groups as the country grapples with the worst humanitarian crisis.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed al Mandhari said in a statement that the Taliban leadership wants the vaccination campaign to proceed with an ”urgency.”

Mandhari said the Taliban’s call for this urgency "demonstrates a joint commitment to maintain the health system and restart essential immunizations to avert further outbreaks of preventable."

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