Campaign derailed: Lady health workers boycott polio drive

MALTI: The 106th polio eradication drive in Badin, which started on October 24, has been disrupted by lady health workers who are protesting against the fact that they have not been paid. The central chairperson of the lady health workers, Bushra Arain, said that they would continue to protest until the government offers them permanent employment and gives them their salaries. Seventy per cent of the lady health workers have boycotted the drive, leading to a huge shortage of human capital, which is temporarily being countered through the appointment of volunteers from the community. Health department officers and the administration of the district have started a discussion on how to deal with the crisis.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2011.