A large number of lady health workers protested on Saturday outside Thull Press Club to express their anger at the killing of five polio campaign workers in Karachi and Peshawar. They said the incident has shown that the government has failed to protect them.
Led by their colleagues Sughra Mirani and Hajra Sarki, they shouted slogans against the government and blocked the road leading to the press club. “We were performing our duties by travelling to far flung areas to save children from polio,” said Mirani. “The terrorists should feel ashamed of themselves for attacking unarmed women.”
She added that the government announced it would distribute Rs500,000 each to the families of the killed workers but the amount has yet to be given to them. “We demand the government pay up by Monday, otherwise we will launch a movement against it.”
Mirani also spoke about the problems that most of the health workers face. “Most of us have been on duty for more than 15 years and are being paid only Rs7,000 each month. Despite repeated promises, we are not being offered permanent employment.” Most of the lady health workers comes from a poor background and accept the job to make ends meet, she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2012.
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To Sughra Mirani: Stop using the LHWs polio-related deaths as an excuse to demand in increase in salaries and a permanent job. Research shows that over 60% of you LHW dont do your work and are recieving a salary for staying at home. Now you want to be paid more forever for staying at home.