Campaign against polio reaches out to labour camps in the UAE

DUBAI-  Image Nation Abu Dhabi has produced a short film on polio, Leap Of Faith, with the aim to create strong awareness about polio among the vast Pakistani expatriate population in the UAE.

The film, spanning over 3 minutes, projects the devastating impact of polio through the touching journey of a Pakistani expatriate in the UAE. The film is being screened across labour camps in the country as part of Image Nation’s multi-media campaign against polio.

Polio is a very important public health issue in Pakistan, which is one of the last remaining countries where the disease has not been fully eradicated.

The UAE and Pakistan have shared a close relationship for many years, and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Al bin Zayed Al Nahyan is committed to supporting polio eradication in Pakistan.  

The UAE Pakistan Assistance Program recently launched a vaccination campaign aimed at reaching over 3.5 million children in Pakistan.

Mr. Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Image Nation, said: “Image Nation Abu Dhabi is proud to be playing a part in raising awareness about polio within the Pakistani community in the UAE.  Working together, we can strive to ensure healthy childhoods for the young people of Pakistan.”

Polio, a disease that mainly affects children, is a highly contagious virus that invades the nervous system and can quickly cause irreversible paralysis. Although the disease does not have a cure, it can be easily prevented by the administration of the polio vaccine.

The short film captures the story of a Pakistani expatriate working as a taxi driver in the UAE and the impact polio has on the life of his children living in Pakistan. The film aims to raise awareness of the disease and its prevention among the Pakistani population in the UAE.

The film is being screened at various forums in order to reach the Pakistani diaspora, with a supporting advertising campaign running between June and September 2014.  The film is being showcased during free movie screenings being conducted at labour accommodations across the UAE.

The film is also available to view at the campaign’s Facebook page  www.facebook.com/leapoffaith2014