A massive campaign to eradicate measles and polio is going on in Afghanistan under a UN sponsored programme. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) nearly 27,000 health workers, volunteers and community mobilizers are working across 16 provinces of Afghanistan over the past two weeks to eradicate the menace of these diseases. In the first phase of the campaign earlier this month more than 8 million children were administered anti-polio and anti-measles vaccinations. The second phase, which will start in September, will include the remaining 18 provinces of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to collaborate in anti-polio drives in order to reach children living along the border areas of both countries. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are the only countries in the world where polio is still an endemic desease.