Pride of Pakistan : Aseefa Bhutto

In lieu of Independence Day on August 14, all of August the Daily Times will highlight individuals who continue to make Pakistan proud. Our seventh interview is with human and animal rights activist, and UN ambassador for polio eradication, Aseefa Bhutto.

You have long been associated with fighting for a polio-free Pakistan. From where you started, how far do you think you've come with your struggle in eradicating polio from the country?

Polio eradication is a cause that has always been very close to my heart, as it was so important to my mother and she paved the way for polio vaccination campaigns in 1994 when she vaccinated me. While we remain one of three countries where polio continues to be endemic, in the past year we have witnessed a 70 percent drop in the number of cases. This is a clear indication that we are headed in the right direction, but we cannot become complacent about our struggle with this disease. I will not be satisfied until we can finally declare Pakistan polio free and am committed to carrying on this campaign for as long as necessary.

"We are a nation that is infinitely rich in culture and made up of courageous individuals and I consider myself blessed every day to call myself Pakistani"

What are your day to day duties when it comes to managing polio eradication in Pakistan?

This varies depending on the day and the situation at the time but includes meeting with Lady Health Workers to hear their concerns and address the issues that they are facing on the campaign as well as meeting with organisations such as the WHO and Rotary International to coordinate eradication efforts with the Sindh government.

What have been some of the major setbacks in your fight for a polio-free Pakistan?

It is important to start out by saying that there has not been a single setback, rather, it is a combination of factors that has made polio eradication so difficult. Obviously, security concerns have been a major feature that have been making headlines. Our teams that risk their lives to save the lives of children across the country are true heroes and deserve our full support. Other issues that we have had to face consistently include religious misconceptions about the vaccine and the logistical difficulties involved in reaching remote and often unstable areas.

On your recent visit to the Lyari General Hospital, you inspected medical facilities and the overall treatment subjected to the patients there. How satisfied were you? How much more can healthcare services be improved in both government and private hospitals?

I think they are doing the best they can with the resources they have. At first
sight, it is immediately apparent that there is so much more to be done; patients frequently do not have individual beds and are often sharing scarce resources. While doctors and nurses are obviously committed to serving their patients there, we need to focus on improving the overall healthcare infrastructure to allow hospitals such as Lyari General to provide a higher level of care.

Are you content with the government's efforts in implementing an effective health care policy for all hospitals? Do you think enough is being done on that front?

As always, resources place significant restrictions on what is possible. However, it is clear that strong efforts are being made. It is always possible to improve and I hope to assist in strengthening the care services that are provided.

You are also a human rights activist and feel equally passionate about animal rights too. What steps have you taken to uphold animal rights in/out of Pakistan?

I passionately believe that all beings, both human and animals, deserve respect and should be treated in a decent manner. I am hoping to propose a bill to the Sindh parliament that will aim to improve the treatment of animals and animal rights in Sindh. Hopefully, this will gradually be taken on by the federal government.

What does it mean to be Pakistani for you?

It is, quite simply, the core of my identity. It is the first adjective that comes to mind when I try to describe myself and there is nothing in the world that makes me prouder than my beautiful country. We are a nation that is infinitely rich in culture and made up of courageous individuals and I consider myself blessed every day to call myself Pakistani.

Do you have any plans to enter politics?

In a way, I have always been in politics in some way or another. Since I was a small child I have been surrounded by diplomats and politicians. Both of my parents, my grandparents and many of my extended family members have helped to shape the political landscape of Pakistan so it was never possible to think of it as remote from my life. However, I am committed to ensuring that I am best able to serve the people if I do go into politics formally; I want to make sure that I have the requisite skills to focus on the major issues facing our country, especially in
the areas of health and humanitarian concerns.

                                                               Achievements

A Polio-Free Pakistan

After being the first Pakistani child to be vaccinated against polio by her mother, the late Benazir Bhutto, Aseefa is now the UN Ambassador of Polio Eradication in Pakistan and has with undeterred spirit and determination, helped eradicate polio by 70% in the country - despite wide resistance and great obstacles.

Animal Welfare

Aseefa feels as strongly about animal rights in the country as much as human rights. She plans to propose a bill to the Sindh Parliament that will improve the treatment of animals and further animal rights in the province

The Star Activist

Aseefa manages all of this while completing a BSC in Politics and Sociology from Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Living On The Edge

In 2013, Aseefa went sky-diving from a height of 13,000 feet to help raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Proceeds from her dive went towards UK-based charity Disasters Emergency Committee. Aseefa's JustGiving charity organisation, calls for generous donations for calamity-struck individuals.