RASC News Agency: The Associated Press, quoting United Nations sources, reported that on Monday, September 16, the Taliban indefinitely suspended Afghanistan’s polio vaccination campaign. The reason behind this decision has not yet been disclosed, and Taliban officials have remained silent on the issue.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two nations in the world where the transmission of this fatal and crippling disease in children has not been eradicated. A senior official from the World Health Organization (WHO) informed the Associated Press that discussions are underway to shift the vaccination strategy from a door-to-door approach to vaccinations at public venues such as mosques.
So far this year, WHO has confirmed 18 cases of polio in Afghanistan, with nearly all originating from the southern regions of the country. This marks an increase compared to six cases recorded in 2023. Prior to seizing control of the country, the Taliban had repeatedly warned parents not to vaccinate their children, condemning the practice as un-Islamic. However, after assuming power, they allowed the vaccination efforts to continue until now.
Recently, the Taliban ruled that women without a male guardian are prohibited from visiting vaccination sites, despite the fact that Afghanistani children are often in the primary care of their mothers, who play a crucial role in ensuring their children’s health and vaccinations. This suspension echoes the Taliban’s previous actions, such as their indefinite closure of schools and universities to girls and women three years ago, a ban that remains in place without any sign of reversal.
