Unpaid Chitral health care workers go on hunger strike

Health official says their salaries were withheld after political leaders contested their appointment

CHITRAL:

More than 108 basic pay scale (BPS) grade IV employees of the district health office, who have not been paid for the past seven months, started a hunger strike on Friday.

The employees, who were appointed in the health department of the district on vacant positions in December 2019 through the proper channels.

After the emergence of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, most of these employees were deputed to the specially-set up isolation wards along with medical officers. As a result of their proximity to infected patients, scores of them also tested positive for the virus themselves.

Shujjauddin, a representative of the workers, said that despite their services in such a critical moment, they have not been paid for the past seven months while the health department does not heed their requests for salaries.

Midwife Hajira Bibi told The Express Tribune that she has an infant. Despite that, she has been continuing her job with dedication. But the government was rewarding them for their service by pushing them to starvation for the past seven months.

The workers have been protesting against the district health office for the past seven days but on Friday started a hunger strike.

When The Express Tribune contacted the Chitral District Health Officer Dr Shehzad Khaider Mulk, he confirmed an inquiry was launched into the recruitments.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2020.