HYDERABAD, July 14: MQM MNA Prof Khalid Wahab has said that poverty, unemployment and illiteracy were the main enemies of the nation which must be eliminated on a war-footing.

He was delivering his presidential address at the award-distribution ceremony for lady health supervisors and lady health workers, which was organized by the provincial coordinator of the national programme for family planning and primary health care at the Mumtaz Mirza Auditorium, Sindh Museum, here on Monday.

He said that in order to defeat these enemies, funds, force and effective measures were needed.

He said that lady health workers were the tools of the health department who play a vital role, especially in eradication of polio, malaria and implementation of EPI programme, in addition to their own duties.

He said it is, therefore, necessary that their service structure must be converted into permanent employment, so that the uncertainty of ad hoc employment could be removed.

Expressing concern over the non-availability of lady doctors in the health centres of rural areas, the MNA stressed upon the authorities concerned to give incentives, especially to lady doctors, so that their services could be ensured for the people of rural areas.

He said though the government is giving top priority to the health sector, the cooperation of people is essential for the successful implementation of the health programme.

MNA Shamim Akhtar, who was the chief guest, said that lady health workers were engaged in a noble cause.

She said that the lady health workers could play a vital role in imparting health education in the society.

She said care is better than cure, which can only be made effective through the services of lady health workers.

The director general, health services, Sindh, Dr Qadir Bux Memon, warned the lady doctors to be punctual, especially at the health centres of rural areas, failing which action will be taken against them.

He said that no one would be allowed to take their salary without performing their duty as it was unlawful.

The provincial coordinator of the national programme for family planning and primary health care, Abdul Majeed Chhuto, in his welcome address said that the national programme was started in 1995 for five years but now it had been extended upto 2010 due to its importance.

He said that lady health workers were so effective in the community that they could bring a silent revolution in the health sector.

He said that there are 22,000 lady health workers who were administering 50 per cent vaccines and 70 per cent pregnancy vaccines to beneficiaries in the province.

He said that all out efforts were being made to increase the salaries of the lady health workers and declaring their services as permanent.

MPA Farzana, the district coordinator for the national programme for family planning, Dr Altaf Khero, Syed Afzal Shah, and other officers of the health department also spoke on the occasion.

Later, 55 awards were distributed among the best lady health workers and lady health supervisors of the district.