Farooq Sheikh walks Varanasi's bylanes against polio

Varanasi, Mar 11 (UNI) Critically acclaimed film personality Farooq Sheikh, in his 'avtaar' as UNICEF goodwill ambassador, today walked through the serpentine alleys here to streamline efforts aimed at eradicating the crippling polio virus.

The star, who has worked with seasoned film-directors like Satyajit Ray and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, spearheaded a team of the UNICEF and health department workers to administer the pulse polio drops to those aged upto five years.

He also strived to wipe out misconceptions preventing the success of the pulse polio immunisation programme in the minority community- dominated pockets of the city.

The lawyer-turned-film personality talked to the parents at the women district hospital and polio booths in the Muslim-dominated Madanpura, Deonathpura, Reori Talao and Maltibag localities.

After greeting the commoners with 'Salam Walikuum,' Farooq, dressed in a starch white 'Kurta-Pyjama' and the green pulse polio cap, called upon mothers to not only ensure their little ones were administered the protective drop, but also make sure the child in the neighbour's house was not deprived of the same owing to unfounded misgivings.

''As mothers, it is your duty not only to protect your child against the polio virus but also the little ones in the neighbourhood,'' Farooq said, adding that women held the key for eradicating the disease.

''We will win this battle against polio if you join the cause,'' resounded Farooq.

He had met Muslim clerics of the city yesterday and urged them to work for the success of the pulse polio immunisation campaign.

Farooq's visit was arranged especially in those areas of the city, where households were resisting the passage of the drive owing to misconceptions about the pulse polio drops, the Health Department sources said.

A total of 4,155 households, including 3,711 in urban areas, have been identified as those resisting the drive and the Reori Talao and Madanpura localities traversed by Farooq extensively today are one of the two most resistent pockets.

UNI