Karzai calls for removal of barriers to polio vaccination in Afghanistan

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has expressed concern over the rising cases of polio in the country and urged the Taliban administration to create better conditions for implementing vaccination campaigns throughout the nation.

On Saturday, September 7th, he reiterated his call for reopening schools and universities to girls in Afghanistan through a message posted on X. He emphasized the need for educational institutions to be accessible to girls to address the country’s challenges related to poverty, disease, and need.

The former president has identified low levels of literacy and awareness as major factors contributing to health problems in the country. He has urged the Taliban government to reopen schools and universities to girls as a critical step towards overcoming these issues.

Recently, the World Health Organization has expressed concern about the increase in polio cases in Afghanistan, reporting 18 new cases in 2024. According to the organization, most of these cases have been in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, where in some areas, people are obstructing vaccination efforts.

Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated.

Addressing the polio outbreak in Afghanistan requires immediate and coordinated efforts, including improving access to education for girls and ensuring effective vaccination campaigns.

The involvement of national and international stakeholders is crucial to overcome these health challenges and work towards eradicating polio.

The post Karzai calls for removal of barriers to polio vaccination in Afghanistan appeared first on Khaama Press.