Afghanistan began their first polio vaccination campaign of the year, aimed at reaching over 5.3 million children under five in 16 of the country’s 34 provinces. The Public Health Ministry stated on Monday that thousands of healthcare workers will be administering the vaccine during the four-day campaign, which runs from Monday to Thursday, and will take place in 16 provinces, including the capital city of Kabul.

The Public Health Ministry has been working to eradicate the disease among children in Afghanistan. According to the statement, in 2022, only two cases of polio were reported in the eastern provinces of Paktika and Kunar, while two cases have been reported in the neighboring province of Nangarhar so far this year, showing a significant decrease from the 56 cases in 2020.