The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Agency have kicked off a polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan.

WHO and UNICEF in a statement welcome the decision by the Taliban leadership supporting the resumption of house-to-house polio vaccination across Afghanistan.

The UN agencies noted that only one case of wild poliovirus had been reported in Afghanistan since the start of the year, providing an extraordinary opportunity to eradicate polio.

They said restarting polio vaccination now is crucial for preventing any significant resurgence of polio within the country and mitigating the risk of cross-border and international transmission.