KABUL, May 8 (Xinhua) -- While the post-war Afghanistan is striving to eradicate the crippling polio in the country, six cases of the disease have been detected, spokesman of the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Monday.

    "There have been six cases reported this year all in the southern part of the country," Adrian Edwards told newsmen.

    He made this remarks while the Public Health Ministry in coordination with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) launched a three-day polio immunization campaign in 11 provinces of the militancy-hit southern and southeastern region Sunday.

    "The aim of this campaign is to reach more than 2 million children with oral polio vaccine. This is part of our effort to eradicate polio from Afghanistan," he added.

    Expressing concern over the increase in polio cases in Afghanistan, Edwards stressed that the number of polio cases has been increased over the previous year.

    However, he expressed confidence that having polio-free Afghanistan with international support is achievable.

    "The Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF and WHO are confident that the goal of polio eradication is achievable," the spokesman emphasized. Enditem ¡¡