A workshop on the polio situation and the role of the media was held for journalists and spokespersons of sectoral institutions

The workshop was attended by the Minister of Public Health, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali; Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Public Health, Sheikh Mohammad Tahir Haleem; Head of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication Dr. Abdul Qudoos Baryalai; central directors, officials from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, spokespersons of various institutions, and a large number of journalists.

The Minister of Public Health, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, spoke about the importance of prevention and protecting human life. He described the polio vaccine as an essential tool to protect children from disability. The minister added that doubts and mistrust about vaccines arise because of misinformation, so it is necessary for the media, religious scholars, and doctors to clarify public understanding and share timely, accurate, positive, and reliable information with the community.

The minister also highlighted the ministry’s efforts, adding that polio vaccination teams are operating in an organized manner across all regions of the country and that the necessary measures for delivering vaccines have been taken. He said: “Afghanistan is on the verge of eliminating polio, and through joint efforts, the country will soon be protected from the threat of this disease.”

Likewise, in the ceremony, the Chief of Staff Sheikh Mohammad Tahir Haleem, religious scholar Mawlawi Mohammad Yaseen Faheem, and officials from the World Health Organization and UNICEF emphasized the importance of coordination, cooperation, and continuous efforts in the national fight against polio. They also called on the media to raise public awareness about the importance of the polio vaccine.

During the meeting, various presentations on the polio vaccine were delivered to the participants by officials. The aim was to build public trust in the importance of the polio vaccine, prevent doubts and misinformation, and take collective steps for a healthy future for the country’s children.