Vaccinators protest for fuel allowance
Polio vaccinators, carrying bag of vaccines and documents to collect data, walk through a neighbourhood in Karachi at the start of a nationwide inoculation drive. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/express
Vaccinators of the health department staged a protest outside the district CEO's office over non-payment of fuel allowance for three months.
The protesting employees also boycotted office work and an anti-polio campaign. They warned of continuing to protest until their demand was met.
On the other hand, the district health authority CEO said departmental action would be taken against the protesting employees who would not perform duties.
Addressing the protesters, the President of the Extended Progeramme on Immunisation (EPI) Welfare Association, Malik Attaullah Sajid, said health workers brave the harsh weather and go to remote areas to administer vaccines and polio drops to children and make the anti-polio campaign successful.
He said it is a pity that poor polio workers had not been paid fuel allowance for three months. He alleged that millions of rupees were siphoned off from the national treasury every month but fuel was not being provided to the polio teams.
A leader of the protesters, Mian Amir Karim, said all employees would support them until their demands were met.
The speakers accused the officials responsible of ignoring the plight of the workers.
When contacted, Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Idris Khan Laghari contended that the protest of the vaccinators was futile.
“Their problem is to be solved by the district health officer to whom no written request has been submitted.
He claimed that some vaccinators had been suspended and show-cause notices had been issued to them for poor performance, after which they has begun the protest.
The CEO warned that strict departmental action will be taken against officials who would not fulfil, their field duties.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2024.