Afghanistan launches polio vaccination targeting 9.1 mn kids

Kabul, Jan 27 (IANS) The Afghan Public Health Ministry on Monday launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign targeting 9.1 million children under the age of five.The five-day campaign started in 30 of the country's 34 provinces, reports Xinhua news agency. Due to harsh weather, the anti-polio drive will not be conducted in Bamyan, Daykundi, Ghor and Badghis provinces.The drive was launched as 29 polio cases were detected in Afghanistan last year.The ongoing insurgency and conflicts have been hindering the efforts to stamp out the infectious disease in the mountainous country as 1.2 million children from areas inaccessible to vaccination teams will miss the ongoing vaccine drive.Afghanistan and the neighbouring Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio cases are reported every year, according to the statement.
--IANS ksk/