RAWALPINDI: In order to raise awareness about polio, the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) put on a stage play titled Umeed on Friday.

The play tells the story of a girl with polio who is bullied for her disease. The writer has tried to impart the message that polio vaccinations are necessary in order to save children from the disease and has tried to raise awareness so that those affected by it are not laughed at and find it easier to be part of society.

“I have tried to raise awareness about the disease. I wanted to tell parents that they should not refuse polio vaccinations for their children because it is for their benefit,” Naheed Manzoor, the writer of the play, told Dawn.

She said she had seen many girls in her neighbourhood suffering from the disease because of negligence by their parents.

“Umeed is an effort to make people understand the feelings of those affected by polio and the difficulties they face in society,” she said.

She pointed out a scene in the play where a wedding is taking place and the friends of the girl with polio force her to get up and dance, not thinking about how difficult she will find it to do so.

“Similar humiliation is experienced by polio patients everywhere and I included the scene in the play so people are made aware of the difficulties those with polio go through,” she said.

Making use of the opportunity and with MNAs from all parties attending the event, RAC management tried to raise awareness about safety measures that can be adopted to avoid dengue.

Speaking at the event, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) Chairman Raja Hanif Advocate said it was everyone’s responsibility to fight against polio and dengue.

He said the federal and provincial governments were making efforts for the elimination of polio from the country. He added that efforts were being made to ensure that the younger generation is healthy and that all available resources were being utilised in these efforts.

The RWMC chairman also awarded cash prizes worth Rs5,000 and a shield were awarded to Qurban Niazi for receiving the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and those who had taken part in the campaign against polio and dengue were also given shields.

The cast of the play included Laiba Ali, Reha Yousaf, Rizwana Ali, Ahsam Qureshi, Imran Rushdi, Amin Shahzada Shahid Kado, Khawar Ayub and Sawaira Shahzadi.

The political leaders who were attending the event included PML-N Metropolitan president Sardar Naseem Khan, MNA Malik Abrar, MPA Raja Hanif Advocate, Dr Jamal Nasir, former MNA MAlik Shakil Awan, former MNA Haji Pervaiz Khan and senior officials of the local administration.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2016