Taliban position on polio immunisations in doubt

Reports on Monday suggest that Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban have not respected a request by the UN for a ceasefire in order to enable the UN to carry out its next round of polio vaccinations which began on 19 May. A UNICEF official in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, told IRIN that negotiations with the Taliban for a temporary halt in fighting had continued “until the last minute”; however, written confirmation agreeing to the move had not been forthcoming. The UNICEF official said an agreement in writing had been the normal procedure followed by the Taliban on previous National Immunisation Days [NIDs]. She said it was unclear whether the Taliban had deliberately violated the campaign or whether their actions had hindered the operation in any way. This would be evident by the end of the week, UNICEF reported. Meanwhile, the opposition Northern Alliance had given formal written acknowledgement to the UN that it would cease hostilities for the three-day campaign, during which thousands of health workers across Afghanistan would endeavour to vaccinate 5.7 million children from birth up to five years old. In total, 34,000 volunteers, 3,300 social mobilisers and 2,500 supervisors are involved in each of the five rounds conducted this year. The campaign is part of a worldwide initiative led by UNICEF and WHO, which last year saw 55 million children vaccinated in 82 countries. Since both Afghanistan and Pakistan are the most important remaining pockets of wild poliovirus, the dates of the immunisation days are synchronised in both countries to ensure full coverage of those children who may be crossing the border. As yet there is no cure for polio, with the best option being prevention. The next round of polio vaccinations in Afghanistan will be conducted in September.