Taliban Backs Polio Vaccine Campaign By WHO, UNICEF In Afghanistan
NDTV
The polio vaccination drive launched by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF in Afghanistan will be the first nationwide campaign to fight the disease in three years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations children's agency kicked off a polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan on Monday, the first nationwide campaign to fight the disease in three years.
Naikwali Shah Momim, WHO's Emergency Operations Coordinator for the polio programme, told Reuters the campaign had started in various parts of the country on Monday, but added there were several hurdles around a shortage of trained staff.
The campaign, which is aimed at reaching over three million children, had received Taliban backing, which would allow teams to reach children in previously inaccessible parts of the country, the WHO said.
"The urgency with which the Taliban leadership wants the polio campaign to proceed demonstrates a joint commitment to maintain the health system and restart essential immunizations to avert further outbreaks of preventable diseases," said Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, in a statement.
