RASC News Agency: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that in 2024, more than two million Afghanistani children under the age of five were vaccinated against measles. This effort forms part of a broader campaign by UNICEF and its partners to combat preventable diseases through expanded immunization programs across Afghanistan. UNICEF underscored that vaccination is a vital and life-saving intervention for every child, regardless of geographic location or socio-economic circumstances. To ensure comprehensive coverage, the organization is working closely with Afghanistani authorities and health institutions to expand access to immunization services nationwide.
At the same time, the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health announced plans to launch a nationwide measles vaccination campaign in 2025, targeting 16 million children. The decision follows growing concerns over the resurgence of infectious diseases in Afghanistan. Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders), operating in several Afghanistan’s provinces, has warned of a sharp rise in measles cases, citing significant surges in hospital admissions at facilities in Herat, Balkh, and Helmand. Reports indicate that at least one child in Afghanistan dies every day from measles. Mikael Le Paih, the Afghanistan country representative for Medicines Sans Frontiers, noted, “Measles can be deadly, particularly for children already suffering from conditions such as malnutrition or congenital heart defects. Fortunately, it is a disease that can be effectively prevented through vaccination.”
Despite daunting challenges, efforts to stem the spread of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases continue across the country. International humanitarian organizations remain committed to delivering life-saving immunization services to children throughout Afghanistan.
