Lady health workers (LHWs) staged protests on Tuesday against delays in payment of salaries in various cities across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, threatening to boycott polio vaccination campaigns if they were not paid on time.
Protesting health workers took to the streets and chanted slogans, demanding their salaries withheld for the past many months, be immediately released.
In Haripur, LHWs and supervisors gathered at an elementary school, where Lady Health Workers Association President Naushaba Bibi criticised the government and National Programme for Health and Population Welfare Provincial Coordinator Ehsanullah Turabi for delay in the payment of salaries, which have left the LHWs and their supervisors facing financial problems.
They demanded Turabi’s termination from service and disbursement of their salaries withheld for the last four months.
Protesters also met the Haripur district coordination officer, who assured them he would take up the matter with the provincial government.
Meanwhile, a health department official told The Express Tribune, that two months’ salary has been transferred to the bank accounts of all LHWs, while salary for the remaining two months would be disbursed “soon”.
Similar scenes in Swat saw LHWs rallying on the Mingora-Saidu Sharif Road, demanding seven months of back pay. LHWs said that they performed their duties in the most extreme and hostile conditions possible, but they have been completely neglected by the government.
Chongai Basic Health Unit Supervisor Kalsoom told The Express Tribune, “LHWs form the foundation of the health department. Our services are visible to everyone all year around.” We did not refuse to work during the militancy and worked round the clock during the floods, yet we are not even paid salaries on time,” she complained.
“I have been working as a lady health worker for 14 years, despite the unfriendly environment,” said Rifaat Shaheen, another protester. “We constantly have to beg for our salaries. In these parts, a woman works out of compulsion, not for luxuries.”
The lady health worker said, “Our children have to quit school because we can’t pay their fees and are forced to live on borrowed money.”
Shaheen pointed out that they have to take to the streets to get their salaries and then wait till the next protest. “It means that we only get our salaries when we go on strike.”
Some LHWs complained they were mocked by bank officials when they called to ask about their salaries.
When provincial coordinator Dr Turabi was contacted, he said “The government has released Rs425 million in the PSD project and salaries for November to February have already been transferred to their bank accounts”. As for their current protest, he said, “It is illogical. They only want regularisation which is not possible for the government.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ