An extensive polio vaccination campaign started on February 26 in 21 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, the country's Health Ministry said. The Taliban-controlled ministry's spokesman, Sharaf Zaman, said the four-day-long campaign aims to inoculate 7.6 million children under the age of five. Zaman asked local religious leaders to cooperate with the inoculation teams. Some parents in the northwest refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated against polio, an infectious disease that can cause paralysis and lead to death. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio has not been completely eradicated. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, click here.
Polio Inoculation Campaign Kicks Off In 21 Afghan Provinces
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Serbia Deepens Military Ties With China Through Drones, Air Defense Systems
2Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker With 18 Crew Members
3Several Protesters Reported Dead In Iran As Anger Builds Over Dismal Economy
4Why Are So Many Leaders Warning Of War With Russia?
5Tanks On The Tree: Russian Military Ornaments Are Out In Force This Year
6Belarus Jailing Citizens For Supporting Ukraine's Fight Against Russia
7Costs Mount As Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade War Strands Thousands Of Trucks
8Why Israel Now Eyes Iran's Missiles Over Nukes Ahead Of Netanyahu-Trump Talks
9Shortcut To Zaporizhzhya: Russian Forces Creep Across Drained Reservoir After Dam Breach
10Scores Of Bodies Outside Morgue In Tehran Amid Deadly Iran Protests
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.