141 Polio Toll-Free Helpline
Afghanistan Polio Eradication Initiative’s official two-way communication platform for community feedback, monitoring, and vaccination support.
The 141 Polio Toll-Free Helpline is the official two-way communication platform of the Afghanistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). It is managed by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Call Center with technical and financial support from UNICEF. The helpline connects communities directly with the program and provides free access to accurate information on polio vaccination and other immunization-related issues.
Through the helpline, caregivers, community members, and frontline workers can ask questions, report suspected acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases, raise concerns, submit complaints, and share suggestions or feedback. Frontline workers can also use the service to report urgent field issues during vaccination campaigns. In addition, the Call Center supports remote monitoring and conducts telephone-based surveys as needed. These functions help strengthen community trust, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
Objectives
The National Call Center, through the 141 Polio Toll-Free Helpline, supports communication, monitoring, and data collection activities that strengthen the implementation of the Polio Eradication Initiative in Afghanistan.
Communication
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Strengthen community engagement by maintaining regular communication with communities, responding to questions and concerns, and promoting awareness to improve acceptance of polio vaccination. |
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Provide accurate information on vaccination campaigns, routine immunization, and vaccine-preventable diseases. |
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Receive and respond to questions, concerns, complaints, and suggestions from communities through the 141 Polio Toll-Free Helpline. |
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Document community feedback and ensure timely referral of issues to the relevant program teams for follow-up and resolution. |
Monitoring
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Conduct remote monitoring of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) during the pre-, intra-, and post-campaign phases by contacting frontline workers, including Provincial Polio Officers (PPOs), District Polio Officers (DPOs), Provincial Communication Officers (PCOs), District Communication Officers (DCOs), vaccinators, social mobilizers, influencers, cluster supervisors, and district coordinators, as well as caregivers and community members. |
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Monitor campaign preparedness, implementation, and post-campaign assessment activities carried out by Regional and Provincial Emergency Operations Centers and Management Teams. |
Surveys and Research
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Conduct surveys to assess caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practices related to vaccination. |
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Support operational research, rapid assessments, and other studies that contribute to improving communication strategies and program performance. |
Operational Working Hours
The Call Center currently operates from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sunday through Thursday. Future expansion plans include extending service hours to further improve community access.