Afghanistan Government has launched an intensive polio eradication programme to wipe out this crippling disease from the country by 2012. This was disclosed by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health in a joint statement with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The statement issued in Kabul today, says the efforts in Afghanistan are part of a global effort to achieve the goal of complete eradication of polio from the world.Afghanistan is one of the only four countries left in the world where the disease remains endemic. Under the programme, intensive efforts will be made focusing particularly on the Southern Region of the country, where the polio virus continues to circulate.Much progress has been made towards eradicating polio in Afghanistan. In 2011, to date, only 13 polio cases have been reported from only seven districts of Kandahar, Helmand and Farah provinces. No cases have been reported from elsewhere in the country, including from the Eastern and North Eastern regions, which are considered to be particularly vulnerable. The joint statement says, focusing on theSouthern Region involves concerted efforts to improve access to all children in conflict affected areas. Priority is also being given to immunization activities in border regions in Southern and Eastern regions where there is free movement between Pakistan which is the endemic country for the polio.The Afghan Government hopes that with the continued and concentrated efforts with partners, donors and communities, the goal of polio eradication will be achieved by the end of 2012.