ISLAMABAD:
In an effort to change the negative perceptions regarding anti-polio vaccines, the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring Cell and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) have decided to seek help from the famous cricket Shahid Afridi.
According to official sources, efforts to engage the charismatic cricketer began three months back in a bid to appoint him as the “Polio Champion” alongside Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, who is currently the ambassador for polio eradication in the country.
Since then, exclusive photo shoots and video recording sessions have been conducted with Afridi which will be used as a part of Unicef-funded advertising and mass media campaigns in future.
His Pashto-speaking background can be highly influential in tribal areas and other Pashto speaking localities, where the prevalence of the crippling disease is the highest, an official said.
Sources also revealed that the cricketer’s appointment will be announced during a ceremony before the upcoming anti-polio campaign in the second week of this month that will be followed by a mass media campaign.
The polio cell’s spokesperson Mazhar Nisar, when contacted, confirmed Afridi’s appointment to The Express Tribune. Asked about the role of Aseefa, he said she will continue to serve as the official ambassador for polio eradication.
Responding to a question regarding the difference between a polio ambassador and a polio champion, he said, “Our ambassador was the first child to receive vaccine from former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. She is the face of our campaign while the celebrities involved in this endeavour are our champions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2012.
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Should we trust an other Afridi for anti.polio mission,like Dr.Shakeel Afridi ?
Dear Afridi,
Very happy to hear that you are taking part of initiative of Polio Eradication in Pakistan, ALL THE BEST and pl educate each and every one the importance of polio vaccination. India also initiated the similar kind of activities in Uttar pradesh with Mohd. Kaif, Mohd.Azaruddin and others.
Good Move by whoever invited Afridi to join this campaign. He has been involved with a fair deal of social work/ flood relief/ earthquake relief etc. Shahid Bhai, ignore the politics and give this your 100% Lots of children are falling victim to polio especially in KyberPakhtunkhuwa and Fata region... some cases are also being reported from other areas of Pakistan
@Khan: I hope and pray to Allah that FATA becomes prosperous and happy. With a lot of media attention, insh'Allah, things will become better. People are genuinely concerned about FATA now. Bhai, I am a Punjabi doctor and I am in Canada and wish to enter a post graduate residency program in the US. After that, I wish to come back to Pakistan and work for Waziristan and Balochistan people. And honestly, there are a lot of Punjabis who care (unlike the corrupt government). And lastly, PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO CALL OTHERS IGNORANT.
@Khan: I do not disagree with you. Yes I have had a stable well educated up bringing and yes FATA has been ignored for too long, but it is also because FATA does not have the respect and culture for education and seeking education.
I know too many educated Pathans and I've seen how they treat their women. South Punjab is not different.
Shahid Afridi is the perfect representative, since he genuinely cares for his residents of his country and will do what it takes to improve the living conditions of his countrymen and countrywomen - Luv You Boom Boom!! Keep up the excellent work - May Almighty Allah Bless You :)
All the best Shahid! I worked with Wasim Akram in January this year for a polio awareness public service announcement - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU1H4KorwQM I also worked with famous former Indian cricketing legend, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar - a polio survivor and it made a huge difference to the awareness and advocacy for people in Australia and India for the global eradication of polio. We hope the best for Pakistan and support from all kids of people! Go Pakistan! You can be the next country to be taken from the endemic list of countries - Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
a very good move....i totally am in favor and in support of it.
Stop the Drone Attacks and get the Job done Mr President.
@Usman:
With comments like thse you look a dozen times more ignorant than those you're calling ignorant as if its fault of Mr Afridi if our so called most powerful entity who rules this country like kings for more than 35 years of its life, failed to bring education to FATA and have failed to integrate it in to settled areas. If you think you're more informed person than those "ignorants" then the only difference is education that you have got due to government's polices and discrimination between two parts of the country.
Very famous cricketer.
With his dismal performance these days, it wont be a bad idea that he also takes some of these polio drops for himself!!
I beg to the government advertisers not to use the faces of politicians in polio adverstisements. YOu see in government ads the pictures of President, Prime Minister, Asefa Bhutto looking into camera for no reason......Believe me this is not promoting the cause of polio...is becomes a political marketing and the real cause of sensitising peole about polio is buried deep.....Please use eye cathing pictures that affect the readers.
Pride of the Nations: Shahid Afridi commendable role you accept to play.
I like this imitative. But make sure Afridi doesn't go over-board in spewing anti-American sentiments.
S. Afridi, please go and tell your ignorant cousins in FATA to start treating their women right, let children have polio drops and start living like normal human beings.
From your concerned countryman
cricketer, not famous cricket.