More than two million Afghan children are currently being immunized in a United Nations-backed three-day polio eradication drive following a sixth reported case of the crippling and sometimes fatal disease in the south of the country this year.
Two months ago, Egypt was declared polio-free after successful immunization efforts. The Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF and the World Health Organization remain confident that the goal of polio eradication is achievable for Afghanistan.
More than 15,000 health workers are traveling from house to house. This mobile approach is essential in ensuring that every child group is reached, with many families unable to access fixed health centres in rural parts of the country, which is one of just four countries in the world still affected by the virus.