Gathering evidence: Human Rights Directorate vows action against harassment of nurses

Official says culprits will be brought to justice after enquiry.


Umer Farooq September 23, 2014

PESHAWAR:


The Human Rights Directorate (HRD) has taken notice of nurses’ harassment in government hospitals and is searching for evidence to bring the culprits to justice.


According to HRD officials, they not only take action after receiving complaints, but also monitor different news outlets for information on cases that need to be addressed.

“We look at newspapers and television channels to see if there is information on cases that need to be taken up with the relevant authorities,” an HRD official told The Express Tribune, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. “We do take notice,” he said.

He added evidence is being gathered against individuals guilty of harassing nurses at government hospitals and those found guilty will be brought to justice following a detailed enquiry. However, the HRD director could not be contacted as he was out of the country.

On September 8, The Express Tribune reported the harrowing tale of Nurse Naila’s* harassment at the Lady Reading Hospital.

She recalled that it was August 20, 2014, and she was on night duty. “I asked the ward orderly, Atta, to bring me some food and gave him money,” the nurse told The Express Tribune. “He later entered the room and tried to harass me.” Naila remembered it was only after she raised a hue and cry that the orderly left.

“I rushed to the office of the FC Block in charge, but he was not in at the time. When I returned to my room, the orderly entered again and started cursing at me,” said Naila.

“I started crying again and was heard by some student nurses who rushed to my room. That is when he finally disappeared.”

Naila added that she wrote a complaint to the LRH medical officer, demanding action against the accused individual.

A senior nurse, requesting anonymity, said these professionals [nurses], who battle to save lives on a daily basis, were targeted not only by doctors and co-workers, but also patients.

The senior health worker said increasing cases of harassment forced many nurses to leave their jobs. She added a large number of them belonged to underprivileged backgrounds and were the only source of income for their families.

*Name changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2014.

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