New Polio Vaccination Drive Launches in Southern Afghanistan Amid Rising Cases

A regional campaign to administer polio vaccinations in the center of Kandahar province and several key districts of Helmand province is set to launch to protect children under five from this incurable disease.

Initiation of Polio Vaccination Campaign in Southern Afghanistan

Health efforts aimed at combating and eradicating polio in southern Afghanistan are entering a new phase. The Afghanistan Free of Polio Foundation announced through a statement on its X (formerly Twitter) page that a targeted sub-campaign for polio vaccinations will begin on Tuesday in parts of Kandahar and Helmand provinces. According to the report, this critical campaign will focus on children under the age of five in Kandahar city, central Helmand, and in the strategically important districts of Nahr-e Saraj, Musa Qala, Washir, Nad Ali, and Marjah, ensuring they receive comprehensive health care.

Call for National Family Cooperation with Health Teams

In light of the irreparable risks posed by this disease, officials from the foundation have urged all members of the community, especially tribal leaders, families, and parents, to fully collaborate with volunteers and health workers during this campaign. The statement emphasized that vaccinating all eligible children is the only way to completely protect the country from the spread of this dangerous virus and achieve a polio-free Afghanistan. Doctors consistently warn that polio remains a severe viral infection with no cure, and the only way to prevent children from contracting it is through regular administration of vaccine drops.

Worrisome Surge in Polio Cases This Year

The launch of these regional campaigns comes at a time when, according to official statistics from the World Health Organization, the number of confirmed polio cases in Afghanistan has risen to six since the start of 2026. The registration of these recent cases has raised significant concerns among international organizations and medical professionals, indicating that the polio virus remains actively present in certain areas and poses a severe threat to the health of the nation’s future generations.