Afghanistan launches nationwide polio campaign targeting 12 million children
Taliban-led government and global health partners begin four-day vaccination drive amid continued effort to eradicate polio
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The Taliban-led Afghan government has launched a four-day nationwide polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching nearly 12 million children under the age of five, in collaboration with international health organizations.
The campaign, which runs from May 26 to 29, is the second nationwide effort this year to eliminate the highly infectious and potentially disabling disease.
Alongside the polio vaccine, health workers are also distributing mebendazole—a deworming medication—to children aged 24 to 59 months, to support broader child health and nutrition goals.
Afghanistan remains one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus is still endemic, despite significant progress in reducing transmission in recent years.
“We will continue to implement polio vaccination campaigns and provide complementary health services until polio is eliminated from our nation,” said Noor Jalal Jalali, the Taliban-appointed Minister of Public Health, in a statement released by the ministry.
Jalali called on local religious leaders, elders, and parents to support the campaign by encouraging families to vaccinate their children. “Community participation is essential. We respectfully call on all citizens to help protect the future of our children,” he added.
Health officials stressed that early and complete immunization is the only effective way to prevent polio, which has no cure and can cause lifelong paralysis or death. While the number of reported cases has declined sharply in recent years, transmission continues in some areas due to gaps in vaccine coverage.
Vaccination teams will be deployed across the country, including in remote and conflict-affected regions. Families are being urged to visit local vaccination sites or ensure access for mobile health workers where applicable.
The campaign is supported by international partners including the World Health Organization and UNICEF, both of which have continued to work with local authorities to strengthen Afghanistan’s immunization infrastructure amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Afghan health authorities have reiterated their commitment to eliminating polio, stressing that the success of this and future campaigns depends on broad public engagement and uninterrupted access to vulnerable communities.
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