Shahid Afridi to front Pakistan polio fight
-File photo
KARACHI: Dashing cricketer Shahid Afridi is to front efforts to eradicate polio from Pakistan, going head-to-head with militants who have banned vaccinations in an al Qaeda-linked stronghold on the Afghan border.
The charismatic former Pakistan captain was born in Khyber district, which is part of the militant-infested tribal belt, and campaigners hope his Pashto credentials can persuade parents to inoculate their children.
“It is a noble cause and I am happy to be part of smashing polio from Pakistan which has crippled many children,” Afridi told AFP.
He said the main target was remote areas of Pakistan, such as the al Qaeda and Taliban infested tribal belt on the Afghan border.
“I am from that area and speak their language, so I will try to go door-to-door to remove any negative concept about the campaign and I hope this will help us raise healthy future generations,” added Afridi.
The campaign is being run by Pakistan and Unicef Aseefa, the younger daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari and assassinated ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, is also an ambassador for the cause.
“It’s my duty to help mankind as the Almighty has given me stature, so I am ready to do any social work which helps human beings,” said Afridi.
Local Taliban and Pakistani warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur, whose loyalists are fighting the Americans in Afghanistan, have banned anti-polio vaccinations in the tribal region of Waziristan to protest against US drone attacks.
They say the drone strikes kill civilians and have condemned the immunisation campaign as a cover for espionage.
Pakistani doctor Shakeel Afridi was jailed for 33 years in May after helping the CIA find Osama bin Laden through a fake hepatitis vaccination programme.
Pakistan is one of just three countries where polio remains endemic, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria.
The highly infectious disease affects mainly the under-fives and can cause paralysis in a matter of hours and some cases can even be fatal.
Good job lala. God bless you.
A good move by Afridi. . . All the best Afridi. God bless you.
Shahi Afridi's initiative is commedable but he got to be careful. There are some misinformed overthere who hate positive activities and may resort to any action/reaction, which serve their interests though at the cost of lovely people of the tribal belt.
This is awesome… being a doctor myself and a healthcare administrator I could not think of a better strategy to develop a media campaign to tackle this serious issue. It is quite heartening to hear that the most famous figure in Pakistan who has a cult like following is being available for this campaign. Thanks Shahid.
it is not duty of Shahid Afridi ,but where is the fake government ,which are just limited for corruption ,I would advice Afridi not to go there ,there is danger of attack on Afridi ,,,,,,
but Shahid Bhai is Pathan he said himself that "agr watan k lye jan di bhi to Shaheed hi kehlayen ge"
Bravo brother Afridi
I wish the politicians had guts to do the right thing like shahid. We need more people like him.
While the effort is commendable, it appears everyone in Pakistan seems to have a stature. Pervez Musharraf has stature, Shahid Afridi has stature and numerous others. The only one not having a stature is Pakistan itself. How surprising!
May God b with u..
great work Shahid Bhai keep it up we are proud of you!
God protect you form misinformed millitants!
great Boom Boom keep it up we all are proud of you!!!
Allah Bless him..