KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Indonesian government, through the Indonesian Agency for International Development (Indonesian AID), has dispatched 10 million doses of domestically produced polio vaccine (bPOV) to the people of Afghanistan.
In a statement released on Friday, March 8, Indonesian AID announced the donation, specifying that the vaccine will be distributed through UNICEF to benefit 3.3 million children under the age of three across Afghanistan.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, quoted by the Indonesian National Police (INP), saying, “In light of this situation, it is our moral duty to provide assistance. This decision is also in response to Afghanistan’s request for polio vaccine donations. Considering our expertise in polio vaccines, I believe Indonesia is well-equipped to contribute.”
Afghanistan and its neighbouring country, Pakistan, remain the last two countries grappling with endemic polio—an incurable and highly infectious disease capable of causing crippling paralysis and even fatalities in young children.
The virus grows in the intestinal system and is shed through feces. The infection typically spreads in areas with poor water and sewage sanitation, and the disease is only preventable by safe and effective vaccines.
In Afghanistan, polio has been exclusively spreading in two eastern provinces, Nangarhar and Kunar, which share a border with Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning that Afghanistan has not recorded any positive cases of polio so far this year. However, last year recorded six positive cases, all in the eastern Nangarhar province.
Prior to the takeover of Afghanistan, the Taliban had frequently prohibited door-to-door immunization efforts and targeted vaccination workers in the southern and eastern regions of the country.
However, since taking over the country, the regime has been grappling with a challenge that had previously impeded eradication efforts. Early last month, in collaboration with international organizations, they launched the second phase of a nationwide vaccination campaign.
The Ministry of Public Health, Taliban, announced at that time that the four-day vaccination campaign would immunize over 7.6 million children under the age of 5 in 21 provinces across Afghanistan.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) remain the two major implementers of the door-to-door vaccination efforts in most parts of Afghanistan. According to UNICEF, 9.4 million children were vaccinated throughout the country last year.
The Indonesian foreign minister expressed gratitude to all parties involved in facilitating assistance, including UNICEF, reaffirming his country’s unwavering commitment to supporting the people of Afghanistan during these challenging times.
“This grant will promote quality vaccine products and medicines made in Indonesia to the global market, especially to meet the needs of UN agencies carrying out programs to improve the quality of health or handle outbreaks in certain crucial countries/regions,” part of the statement reads.
