Afghanistan launches polio vaccination campaign for children

A health worker gives oral polio vaccine drops to a child during a vaccination campaign in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 24, 2025. Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health launched the fourth sub-national polio vaccination campaign of 2025 on Monday in a bid to guard around 7.4 million children against paralysis. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health launched the fourth sub-national polio vaccination campaign of 2025 on Monday in a bid to guard around 7.4 million children against paralysis.

The four-day initiative, running through Thursday, will administer oral polio vaccine drops across 17 of the country's 34 provinces, according to a statement from the ministry.

"It is crucial for all community influencers, including religious scholars, elders, and parents, to support polio vaccination teams nationwide," said Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali.

Afghanistan has reported at least nine polio cases this year, with the most recent detected in southern Uruzgan province in early October.

Along with neighboring Pakistan, Afghanistan is one of only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus transmission persists.

"We will spare no effort and sustain these campaigns alongside complementary health services until polio is fully eliminated," Jalali added.

A child receives oral polio vaccine drops during a polio vaccination campaign in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 24, 2025. Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health launched the fourth sub-national polio vaccination campaign of 2025 on Monday in a bid to guard around 7.4 million children against paralysis. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)