LHWs threaten to boycott polio drive if demands not met

CHITRAL: Lady health workers (LHWs) and their supervisors held a meeting here and announced their decision to launch a protest drive till their demands were accepted.

The LHWs warned that if the government did not accept their genuine demands, they would boycott the anti-polio drive sheduled to start from April 22.

The representatives of the lady health workers including Asya Bibi, Mehre Afroz, Gul Shehzadi, Zahida, Sadia and others said the LHWs were appointed in 1996 and since then they have been working in the district to perform duties such as polio vaccination, family planning etc.

But even after so many years, their services were not being regularized and upgraded and they were still being kept deprived of allowances such as health professional and risk allowances.

Some LHWs retired after rendering more than 25 years of service but they were not given any benefits and sent home empty handed. The LHWs are also forced to perform extra duties but without any remunerations.

They said the previous government mad promises but did not fulfil them and the current government had forced the LHWs to take to the streets.

They said keeping the typical topography and terrains of Chitral, the LHWs should be provided special allowances and facilities to help them perform duty with ease.

 

Reporter: Syed Nazir Hussain Shah