International Nurses Day: Little respect for Lady Reading Hospital’s healing hands

Peshawar’s main healthcare facility silently bears the brunt of the war against militancy.

PESHAWAR: Nurses provide round-the-clock services to people in all sorts of conditions, but a host of social and security issues surrounds their profession, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 

A seminar was organised to mark the International Day of Nurses under the theme of ‘Closing the Gap from Evidence to Action’ at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Friday.

Dilraz, head nurse at the LRH, told The Express Tribune that lack of security for medical staff was among the major difficulties in one of the biggest hospitals of the province.

She said that a narrow-minded and conservative approach in a less literate society results in many questions. “People still consider our profession bad and discourage their daughters from taking up nursing as a future occupation.”

She said that their profession has failed to get the recognition and respect it deserves in the society.

Dilraz said that there is a dire need for creating mass awareness to redress apprehensions and change people’s mindset regarding this profession. “The demand for this profession has gone up manifold but slow growth of workforce available for nursing is hindering the process to serve humanity, especially in the volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.”

Talking about security issues, she said, “The government should also take stringent measures and deploy at least two police personnel at each ward because relatives of patients insult and exchange harsh words with us if a patient dies.”

Farrukh Jalil, president of the District Nursing Association, endorsed this view. “Cops should perform their duty in emergency units of hospitals as family members of patients often create problems for nurses and doctors,” she said.

Dr Arshid Javed, chief executive of the LRH, said that the lone health facility had received the maximum number of causalities in the backdrop of militancy in K-P and Fata.

“Our staff is committed to providing timely treatment to all. The role of nurses cannot be sidelined and they play an outstanding role in all circumstances. They leave no stone unturned, particularly in various emergencies,” he said.

He said that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and are facing an acute shortage of resources.

In recognition of their performance last year, around 20 nurses, including two special head nurses Perven Bukhari and Shehzadi Jamila, were awarded appreciation certificates.