Capturing the poignancy of the battle against polio

The Polio War was screened at the French embassy.

ISLAMABAD:

The French embassy screened a prize-winning documentary on the battle against polio on Wednesday evening.

“The Polio War” directed by journalists Julien Fouchet, Sylvain Lepetit and Taha Siddiqui, won the Albert Londres Prize 2014.

The event was hosted by French Ambassador Philippe Thiebaud. The heart-rending documentary highlights refusal cases, inaccessibility of areas in the tribal belt, negligence on the part of religious scholars as well as parents and killing of polio workers. The documentary encapsulates the importance as well as the complexity of efforts to eliminate polio.

Thiebaud said the polio epidemic was as much of a concern for the international community as it was for Pakistan. Lauding the efforts of polio workers who are risking their lives, he stated, “Looking at the commitment of these workers, we see the dedication of Pakistanis who are fighting not just against this disease, but also terrorism.”

G8 countries assign great importance to maternal and child healthcare, he said. “We need to mobilise resources and support efforts here.”

Siddiqi travelled all over the country to produce the documentary. He added that while they were making the documentary two years ago, it was reported that polio cases had tripled in the country.

He said the number of refusals or missed cases was not available with the government. “The recent influx of IDPs from North Waziristan has opened a new chapter for polio eradication in Pakistan.” Polio workers interviewed were either widows or needed monetary assistance, he added. “For just a nominal fee they are willing to risk their lives.”

Siddiqi explained while clerics in villages were playing an essential role in conducting anti-polio campaigns, local Urdu newspapers were disseminating false information in news reports on a regular basis. “Some newspapers are at times given out for free.”

The Albert Londres Prize is the highest French journalism award in honour of journalist Albert Londres. Created in 1932, it is considered the French equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize is only awarded to two laureates each year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2014.