May 16, 2023
2 mins read

Afghanistan launches 4-day polio vaccination campaign

The campaign, which got underway on May 15, intends to immunize 6.4 million kids in 23 provinces of Afghanistan….reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Public Health on Monday announced a four-day polio vaccination campaign across 23 provinces of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

The campaign, which got underway on May 15, intends to immunize 6.4 million kids in 23 provinces of Afghanistan. Afghanistan on Sunday reported its first death due to poliovirus in 2023 in Nangarhar, reported Tolo News.

The Ministry of Public Health reported two cases of polio in Nangarhar. A spokesman for the Health Ministry, Sharafat Zaman Amerkhail said that these two cases have been reported in the Koot and Batikoot districts of Nangarhar province. One polio-stricken child has died.

“In these two cases, one child is four years old and the other is 11. One of them lost their life,” said Amerkhail.

Family members of the child who died in Batikoot district said that one year ago, their child was infected with polio and was paralyzed from the neck down and after severe diarrhoea died in the hospital. The child was named Nazo, reported Tolo News.

“Her neck became paralyzed. She couldn’t control it. We took her to the hospital and on the night of Eid she died,” said Iqbal Shah, the grandfather of Nazo.

“After this disease (polio), her feet become tiny. Her stomach become acidic, she lost control of her neck and she couldn’t digest food,” said Zarmina, the mother of Nazo.

Meanwhile in Pakistan, the Health Ministry has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus in an environmental sample from South Waziristan district in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

The wild poliovirus type 1 was isolated from a sewage sample collected from the Qureshi Mohalla area of the district on April 19, the Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

The virus is genetically linked to poliovirus found in a sewage sample collected from the same district in September 2022, it added.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program is conducting tests for poliovirus at 114 fixed environmental sites in the country every month, said the statement as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

“To further enhance surveillance in high-risk areas, it has also been collecting additional sewage samples from multiple sites in southern KP periodically, and this latest detection is from one such collection site,” according to the Ministry. (ANI/IANS)

ALSO READ: China keen to invest in gas, oil sectors in Afghanistan

Previous Story

Imran’s wife gets bail in Al-Qadir Trust case

Next Story

$40m UN cash package arrives in Kabul

Latest from -Top News

Sudan army pulls out as RSF seizes El-Fasher

al-Burhan made the announcement late on Monday, a day after the RSF claimed to have captured the main Sudanese army base in el-Fasher….reports Asian Lite News Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah

India vigilant as Nepal faces political uncertainty

Indian agencies suspect that external elements are making attempts to create a political vacuum in the country. …reports Asian Lite News India is closely monitoring political developments in Nepal, emphasising that stability

India vows stronger maritime ties with ASEAN

Conveying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm greetings on the 20th anniversary of the East Asia Summit (EAS), he said India deeply values the members’ contributions to regional peace, progress, and prosperity….reports Asian

Piyush Goyal in Brussels as India, EU push FTA talks

Goyal’s visit reflects India’s steadfast commitment to deepening engagement with the European Union…reports Asian Lite News Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday met EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security

Shutdown Turmoil Grounds Thousands of US Flights

On Sunday alone, over 8,700 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware, as staffing shortfalls continue to mount…reports Asian Lite News More than 4,000 flights across the US were delayed on Monday, with
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Afghan media on brink of extinction

Media bodies said that the media has become very vulnerable

Taliban stresses on implementation of Sharia in Afghanistan

Taliban wants to fully impose their interpretation of Sharia Law,