Afghanistan Bans Female Health Workers From Polio Campaigns in Parts of 1 Endemic Country
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · Jul 22
Afghanistan Bans Female Health Workers From Polio Campaigns in Parts of 1 Endemic Country
3 articles · Updated · Nature.com · Jul 22
Summary
Female health workers have been barred from polio-vaccination campaigns in parts of Afghanistan, disrupting a workforce long seen as essential to reaching children and families.
Afghanistan is one of only 1 countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic, making any restriction on vaccination access a direct threat to eradication efforts.
The ban hits a campaign model that relies heavily on women to enter homes and vaccinate children, especially in conservative areas where male workers face access limits.
The setback adds to broader concerns that operational and political constraints in Afghanistan could prolong global efforts to eliminate polio.
With female vaccinators banned in Afghanistan, is the global dream of eradicating polio by 2027 now impossible?
As the Taliban's 'gender apartheid' deepens, what new strategies can reach millions of Afghan children now at risk?
Afghanistan’s Polio Crisis 2026: Taliban Policies, Female Health Worker Bans, and the Global Health Security Threat
Overview
As of July 2026, the global fight against polio faces major challenges, with Afghanistan and Pakistan remaining the main hotspots for the wild poliovirus. The virus continues to circulate widely, as shown by hundreds of positive environmental samples reported by the WHO in 2025. This ongoing spread poses a serious threat to global health. The resurgence is driven by insecurity, which disrupts vaccination efforts, and by the difficulty of reaching vulnerable populations. These factors make it hard to stop the virus, highlighting the urgent need for effective and sustained interventions to protect communities and achieve eradication.