PESHAWAR, Jan 31: Students of the Nursing School of the Khyber Teaching Hospital have alleged that their principal and chief nursing superintendent were creating problems for them
and have asked the chief minister to intervene and save their future.
"The principal, chief nursing superintendent and hostel housekeeper have become albatross around the neck of 400 students," a group of student-nurses at the Khyber Teaching Hospital told reporters here on Monday. They alleged that one of their colleagues, Gulnar, a third-year student, died on January 13 because of the refusal by the hostel housekeeper to grant leave.
"She was suffering from a cardiac ailment, but the housekeeper was reluctant to relieve her despite rest advised by a doctor," they said, adding that she later underwent an operation at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where she died.
According to them, the surgeon had asked the principal to recommend free treatment for the nurse, but she refused. Finally, her parents sold their house to pay for the operation.
"As she was hospitalised at the LRH, the housekeeper complained to the high-ups that she had gone without having filed a leave application," they said and added that she had already submitted an application, which was misplaced by the housekeeper.
Another student, Afshan, died in Kohat on Friday because of insympathetic attitude of the principal, chief nursing superintendent and housekeeper, they alleged. Suffering from leukaemia, Afshan had been made to carry out harsh duties at the hospital causing deterioration in her health, they said.
"Many a times she was disallowed rest despite doctor's advice. But she kept quite because she could not have afforded to risk her job. She was put under tremendous pressure," the students said.
