Hanan Hassan Balkhi, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, has emphasized that eradicating polio in Afghanistan requires strengthening the country’s health system and expanding healthcare services alongside vaccination campaigns.
Following meetings with Taliban officials and health sector partners in Afghanistan, Balkhi said that with increased coordination and continued cooperation, the poliovirus could potentially be fully eradicated in Afghanistan within the next 12 months. She added that the fight against the disease cannot be limited to vaccinating children alone, but also requires the establishment of a sustainable and resilient healthcare system.
She stated: “Delivering life-saving vaccines to every child must take place alongside strengthening routine immunization, maintaining essential health services, and building a more resilient health system.”
The remarks were made after a meeting attended by Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs; Christopher Elias, President of Global Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; several WHO officials; representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and Qatar’s ambassador to Afghanistan.
The World Health Organization said that the current security situation in Afghanistan provides a favorable opportunity for implementing vaccination programmes. However, achieving the ultimate goal of polio eradication requires cooperation from all stakeholders and ensuring that every child has access to essential health services.
Afghanistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus has not yet been eradicated. The disease has threatened children’s health for decades, and despite extensive vaccination efforts, transmission of the virus continues.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have halted door-to-door polio vaccination campaigns and restricted the implementation of the programme to mosques. Some health experts have warned that these restrictions could reduce nationwide vaccination coverage and create further challenges for polio eradication efforts.
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. The virus spreads through contaminated water or food and close contact between individuals, and in severe cases, it can lead to permanent paralysis.
There is no definitive cure for polio, but vaccination remains the most effective method of prevention. According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world where wild poliovirus continues to circulate.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
