Lady health workers protest extended duties during Ramazan

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RAWALPINDI:

Female health and sanitation patrol workers in Rawalpindi are up in arms against the "excessive workload during Ramazan", which includes double shifts for polio and dengue prevention duties, followed by additional tasks until 10pm for compiling computerised micro-plans.

Many female workers have reported growing domestic tensions due to their prolonged absence from home from morning till late at night.

Some families have resorted to purchasing Iftar items from the market as the women are unable to prepare meals at home.

Frustrated by the situation, the workers staged a strong protest at the district health office. According to the protesting workers, the workload has become unbearable as Ramazan nears its end.

After completing dengue surveillance and polio immunization duties, they are forced to manually draft micro-plans for the next day's inspections, later begging computer operators to digitise them. This process extends their work hours until 9 or 10pm, forcing them to break their fasts at work or in the streets rather than with their families.

Adding to their frustration, minor mistakes in reports are met with immediate show-cause notices. The women also complain that their compensation is meagre compared to the gruelling 18-hour workdays they are forced to endure.