SOC Films, with two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at the helm, has announced the launch of Across Every Doorway, a new documentary to mark World Polio Day on 24th October 2026. Following four women working across Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Islamabad, the film offers an intimate look at the people whose persistence, courage, and commitment sustain Pakistan’s fight against polio.
Through their work in communities, campaign oversight, and laboratory testing, Across Every Doorway explores the effort behind protecting children: overcoming vaccination refusals, countering misinformation, building trust, and tracking the virus, often under difficult and uncertain circumstances.
“Behind every door is a family, a conversation, and a child whose future deserves to be protected,” said Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Founder and CEO of SOC Films. “Across Every Doorway tells the stories of the extraordinary women working tirelessly to protect children from polio, often in the face of immense challenges. From doorsteps to communities to laboratories, their determination is what drives this effort forward. Through this film, we want to honour their courage, bring visibility to their often unseen work, and remind the world that the responsibility to protect every child belongs to all of us.”
Four Women, Four Frontlines
In Karachi, the documentary follows Fouzia Ahmed, a Union Council Area Supervisor with the WHO Polio Programme, as she prepares vaccination teams, engages local officials, and visits households reluctant to vaccinate their children. A mother herself, Fouzia brings both professional resolve and personal conviction to her work, supporting colleagues who face insults, misinformation, and concerns for their safety.
In Rawalpindi, Dr. Shumaila Akbar, an Area Coordinator with the WHO Polio Programme, provides a vital layer of oversight by monitoring campaigns, verifying standards, and identifying gaps. Her story also reflects the determination required to navigate expectations around women’s roles while working irregular hours and travelling for her responsibilities.
In Peshawar, Laiba Ijaz, a Community Health Worker in Union Council Lahori, works to ensure that no child is overlooked, including newborns and children from families who have recently moved into the area. Having left school to support her family when her father became ill and later passed away, Laiba’s journey reveals how work undertaken out of necessity grew into a commitment to serving her community.
In Islamabad, Dr. Riqba Akhtar, a Virology and Immunology Laboratory Scientist, demonstrates how environmental and human samples are tested for traces of the poliovirus. Her work connects scientific surveillance with action in the field, providing findings that help inform campaign oversight and the wider eradication effort.
The Human Effort Behind Eradication
The documentary examines how mistrust, online rumours, social pressures, and operational challenges shape the response to vaccination campaigns. It also highlights the painstaking efforts to secure support from doctors, religious leaders, and local authorities, showing how sustained dialogue can help change minds and open doors.
Announced on World Polio Day, Across Every Doorway honours the women carrying this work forward and invites audiences to consider the human effort behind protecting every child. Its closing message captures the conviction that unites its subjects: “Every drop counts. Every child matters. That is why we keep going.”
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