Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://polioeradication.org/news-post/ending-polio-in-afghanistan-big-plan-small-details/
Ending polio in Afghanistan: Big plan, small details
How do vaccinators ensure that every child is reached?
Every child needs to be vaccinated to protect them from poliovirus. To achieve this, detailed plans are prepared for vaccination teams. The aim is to find each child under 5 years of age ? in Afghanistan, that is around 10 million altogether ? and to reach them with vaccines.
A heavy steel gate opens on a quiet suburban street in central Herat. The city lies in a fertile river valley in Western Afghanistan, an area rich with thousands of years of history. Over past centuries, different invaders from Genghis Khan?s army to the troops of the Timurid empire, the Mughals and the Safavids have opened the gates to rule the city once known as the Pearl of Khorasan.
Now, a peaceful group can be seen walking down the streets of Herat. Equipped with blue vaccine carrier boxes and drops of polio vaccine, the teams knock on one door after another to vaccinate any children they find inside. The aim is to eradicate polio in Afghanistan.
Four-year old girl Setayesh peeks from behind the gate and steps out on the street, followed by her father Reza Nazeri, who is carrying sleepy two-year-old little sister Saharnaz.
Reza encourages the girls to open their mouths to receive two drops of polio vaccine, and a drop of vitamin A. The children look at the vaccinators with suspicion, but follow.
The vaccinators thank them and continue down the street....
Ending polio in Afghanistan: Big plan, small details
How do vaccinators ensure that every child is reached?
Every child needs to be vaccinated to protect them from poliovirus. To achieve this, detailed plans are prepared for vaccination teams. The aim is to find each child under 5 years of age ? in Afghanistan, that is around 10 million altogether ? and to reach them with vaccines.
A heavy steel gate opens on a quiet suburban street in central Herat. The city lies in a fertile river valley in Western Afghanistan, an area rich with thousands of years of history. Over past centuries, different invaders from Genghis Khan?s army to the troops of the Timurid empire, the Mughals and the Safavids have opened the gates to rule the city once known as the Pearl of Khorasan.
Now, a peaceful group can be seen walking down the streets of Herat. Equipped with blue vaccine carrier boxes and drops of polio vaccine, the teams knock on one door after another to vaccinate any children they find inside. The aim is to eradicate polio in Afghanistan.
Four-year old girl Setayesh peeks from behind the gate and steps out on the street, followed by her father Reza Nazeri, who is carrying sleepy two-year-old little sister Saharnaz.
Reza encourages the girls to open their mouths to receive two drops of polio vaccine, and a drop of vitamin A. The children look at the vaccinators with suspicion, but follow.
The vaccinators thank them and continue down the street....