DC Quetta says workers being sacked without approval. PHOTO: FILE
Glaring communication gaps between polio campaign donors and the government have made it harder to check the spread of the disease in both conflict zones and less volatile areas in the country.
In a letter written to the Unicef management by the deputy commissioner (DC) Quetta, it was conveyed that the Communication Network (COMNet) — a body that tries to spread awareness and counter refusals — has been hiring and sacking polio workers without the approval of the DC.
“Under the National Emergency Action Plan 2014 (NEAP) the district polio eradication cell (DPEC), the chairman will lead communications and social mobilisation activities,” the letter stated.
However, the letter from the DC’s office adds that he has “never been involved in any of the hiring and firing process of all support staff for polio”. It pointed out that though three letters had been written in this regard no reply had been received so far.
The letters, whose copies are also available with The Express Tribune, include those from the district health officer (DHO), commissioner, sub-division Quetta and the DC himself.
The correspondence concludes with a note that in future the district administration be kept in the loop so that “such issues of personal likes and dislikes do not take place”.
Another letter written from the DHO’s office, which claims that an official, Zeenat Yasmeen’s contract was not extended despite the fact that she was ‘performing her duty in an excellent way’ adding that a number of refusals were also reduced owing to her efforts.
In response to an email sent by The Express Tribune to Unicef, Chip Training and Consulting (Pvt) Ltd’s Senior Manager Sarah Farooqui said that the recruitments for COMNet were made through the company, which is legally the employer of all the staff hired under COMNet in polio high-risk districts in Pakistan.
“In view of the regular performance evaluation, in Balochistan, lately, the company opted not to extend the contracts of 11 COMNet staff members, including the Quetta DHCSO and their contracts were concluded,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
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Salam
I am very much glad about this article i am brother of zeenat. In balochistan there is no Govtt involvement comnet unicef polio programe,miss zeenat yasmeen was a very hard worker since 2007 she was is in polio programe she started her career since 2000,in unicef polio programe she was social mobilizer after 3 year work she selected as a dhcso in 2011 in Quetta. She was performing her duty very well she support Govtt and worked in hard enviorment in balochistan female work is not easy but she did it. She was handling a huge team she din't recieved any explaination such as showcause notice and not any performance base probetion period but some personel grudges unicef quetta target her she was one who supported her family but in her 15 years career no any orgnization issue on her : now my question is that if on december 2013 one performance apprasal is conducted so how possible in april 2014 other aprasal is conducted it is totaly game for removing her aprasal is conducted only quaterly and yearly bases how ctc and qta team conducted it and in other provinces this aprasal is not conduted but comnet is working also there they are not sincere in polio programme they replace there family members and friends they dont want to end the polio they making business through ctc I am reguesting plz do inquiry on this case and give them extension