Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Ministry of Public Health
Public Relations Department
MoPH condemns the senseless killing of the polio workers in Kunduz and Takhar provinces
Friday, February 25, 2022:
Yesterday, eight polio workers, four of them women, were killed by unknown gunmen in separate attacks in in Kunduz and Takhar provinces.
Three male and one female vaccinator were gunned down in the outskirts of Kunduz city, while two vaccinators and a social mobilier were killed in Imam Sahib district of the same province, and one male vaccinator was killed in Taloqan city of Takhar province.
The cause and intention of the attack remain unknown, and security officials have launched an investigation.
Following these unfortunate incidents, the polio vaccination campaign in Takhar and Kunduz provinces were stopped to prevent further attacks and to protect the safety of other vaccinators.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns the attack of polio workers and calls for the perpetrators to be prosecuted, arrested, and punished. The ministry also expresses its sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families, relatives, colleagues, and friends.
May Allah, Almighty rest their departed souls in eternal peace and give strength to their families to bear these irreparable losses.
The Polio programme express deepest condolences to the families and friends of the fallen polio workers and appreciates their courageous efforts to save children’s lives and protect them from polio disease.
The government of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan remains committed to ending polio and will provide security assurances to all frontline workers everywhere in the country.