Anti-polio drive: LHWs demand better security in risky areas

Association head asks government, law-enforcement agencies to take appropriate steps.

PESHAWAR:

Despite high security risks and unsatisfactory arrangements for their protection, the Lady Health Workers (LHWs) have vowed to participate in the upcoming anti-polio drive in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the LHW Association Provincial President Humaira Shaukat, said the polio vaccinators were still being facing numerous security threats while taking part in the polio-eradication drive in the province.

“We have no objection to participating in the polio immunisation drive in any part of the province, but the government and law-enforcement agencies should take appropriate steps for providing security to the polio vaccinators,” she said.

She further said that the association had registered more than 13,000 health workers in the province. Furthermore, she appreciated the government initiative of regularising the services of LHWs and attributed the outcome to the efforts of the workers of the association.

While explaining objectives of the association, she said that the LHWs would be provided basic training, education and special packages. She further said the association has also decided to extend Rs50,000 as monetary assistance for the LHWs either killed or injured in the line duty.

She denied the allegations against the association regarding taking bribe from LHWs, on pretext of regularisation in different districts in the province, as baseless and propaganda. Shaukat also clarified that they had only received Rs500 from each LHW as annual membership fee.

Moreover, the LHWs expressed concern over non-payment of salaries to those workers who participated in an anti-polio drive in different parts of the province last month.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.