South Waziristan's medical workers go on strike over kidnapping

Patients, who kept waiting for doctors to return to their posts, called on the health workers to call off the strike

WANA: Medical workers at health facilities in South Waziristan on Thursday boycotted their duties a day after a doctor was abducted by armed men in the tribal district.

The medical staffers and a local jirga urged the security forces in the tribal district to recover the abducted doctor, warning that they will stage a sit-in otherwise.

The doctor’s association of South Waziristan Tribal District on Thursday staged a protest against the abduction of Dr Noor Hanan by armed men from the Tuberculosis Hospital the other day.  They also boycotted duties at health facilities across the district and warned that they will continue their boycott until the doctor is recovered.

Patients, who kept waiting for the doctors to return to their posts, called on the health workers to call off the strike.

Meanwhile, an Ahmedzai tribal jirga met in the district headquarters of Wana. They demanded that the security forces and the district administration work to safely recover the health professional. The district administration has stepped up security measures in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2019.